Doug NollI'm called in when human dynamics are getting in the way of strategic leadership execution.

Stop Winning Arguments the Wrong Way

23 Dec 2025 · 1 min

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The donkey-tiger-lion fable teaches that you can't win an argument with logic alone if someone feels unheard. Validate their emotions first, or your facts won't land.

Chapters

You might have heard the story of the donkey who insists the grass is blue, but you need to hear this take. The donkey argues with the tiger until they take it to the lion. The lion agrees the grass is blue, not because it's true, but because the argument isn't worth the energy. And that's how most people use this story to say that some fights don't matter, so walk away. But that's not the real lesson. The tiger didn't need to win. He needed to validate the donkey's emotion, because if someone doesn't feel heard, they won't hear you no matter how right you are. Save this as a reminder for the moments when the argument isn't worth your Energy.