We can always find something to learn from or inspired by old folk tales as they reflect distilled wisdom of the people. This article is about such a tale from the east and what I take as a drop of wisdom for our knowledge strategies.

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Nasreddin Hodja, a cross cultural folk hero in the east, with his wittiness and perplexed logic, over the centuries entertained people as well as told about the human condition. Discovered by the social science crowd his stories have been the subject of many research papers.

Without further delay, here’s the story:

As Nasreddin Hodja turned to the congregation to deliver the Friday sermon at the mosque, he realized that he has not prepared anything at all. Being him, the witty Hodja, he asked:

“Oh people, do you know what I am going to say to you?”

The audience replied all together:

“No…”

Hodja rolled his eyes:

“I have no desire to speak to people who don’t even know what I will be talking about!”

Then he swiftly got up and left. People felt embarrassed. They decided to say “yes” the next time.

The following week Nasreddin Hodja was again expected to deliver the sermon, and again he asked:

“Oh people, do you know what I am going to say to you?”

This time prepared, the audience replied in unison:

“Yes!”

Hodja smiled:

“Very good then, if you already know it, I don’t have to waste my time.”

He left leaving a completely confused crowd behind. After some heated discussions, they had a plan.

The following week once again as expected he asked:

“Oh people, do you know what I am going to say to you?”

This time half of the audience said “yes” according to plan, the other half said “no”.

Hodja smiled with a big smile and said:

“Well then, now let the half of you who know what I am going to say, tell it to the half who don’t!”

Nasreddin Hodja while saving himself from the toil of actually preparing a sermon, he unknowingly chooses a far better strategy to help the people. Similar wisdom applies to organizations of today about Knowledge Management: enable, facilitate, instigate – but don’t control the flow of knowledge.