隱喻是一個強而有力的交流工具，

一個隱喻可能勝過千言萬語，節省大量的表達用詞。
隱喻能創造想像空間，讓人重新思考問題，

從而開闢全新解決方案的可能性。

身為職場領導者或工作者，善用隱喻可以激勵員工或同事採取行動及產生改變。

隱喻不僅使溝通有成效，還能讓人迅速認清現實，

脫離無效目標，重新開始或改變方向。

隱喻更可用於對話指導，激發想像力和啟發對話。

舉例來說：

**「The Emperor’s new clothes.****」（**國王的新衣：安徒生童話裡的國王一絲不掛遊街，是因為沒有人敢說出真相。）

──太多領導者總是偏聽他人的曲意奉承，看不清事情的真相。

**思考提示：**面對生活，需要足夠的勇氣與無私的坦然，才能發現真理。

「The elephant in the room.****」(房間裡的大象：房間裡明明有隻大象，人們卻當作沒看見。)

──有時候問題過於難解，但是它明明還在，人們就是得過且過或絕口不提。

思考提示：你不批評、不指責，單純就事論事，以開放的態度討論解決方案。

「Face the music .****」(勇於面對現實，接受不好的後果：這裡不是要你面對音樂，而是要你承擔做錯事的後果。)

──判斷錯誤，就要自己承擔後果。

**思考提示：**眼看著事態發展不如預期，你有多大的心胸願意負起責任？

「Put a tiger in your tank.」(油箱裡的猛虎能量：在你的油箱裡放一隻老虎？！這是知名汽油品牌ESSO<埃索>的廣告文案，但老虎與汽油有什麼關係呢？正是這種隱喻，使人想去探究其深層的含義：這種汽油將為你的汽車帶來無限的動力，猶如一頭猛虎。)

──有時候你需要將精力集中在某個能讓你不遺餘力的目標。

**思考提示：**你的抗壓性高嗎？假如遇到必須迅速執行的活動，你會有什麼風險？

「Act the goat.****」(裝瘋賣傻／幹盡蠢事：這可不是扮一隻山羊，這是為了逃避責任的「裝傻」，也可解釋為逗人一笑的「耍笨」，有時候還可形容「瘋癲」。)

──有時候我們會做一些別人眼中的蠢事而不自知。

**思考提示：**你願不願意基於好理由讓自己顯得有點愚蠢？因為這樣能夠累積相當程度的好感。

寥寥數語的「隱喻」濃縮了集體經驗的智慧。

利用「隱喻」思考問題，有助於解放思路，開啟更多新的解決方案。

藉由「隱喻」，我們能夠切中問題核心、釐清事態、帶來洞見，或者指出癥結所在。

本書收錄200則多樣化的「隱喻」，有些很新穎，有些早已膾炙人口，

每一則都值得我們玩味；而且可供領導者在不同的環境下應用。

領導者在各式各樣的情況下思考如何表現出最佳引導和影響力，

本書可作為豐富的思考提示資源。

請讓想像力隨著每一則隱喻共舞，展開新洞見的種種可能，

人生將會處處充滿驚喜，而且讓人樂在其中。

作者／譯者簡介

＜作者簡介＞

彼得•蕭（Peter Shaw）

普瑞斯塔夥伴（Praesta Partners）企管顧問公司的共同創辦人，至今為止曾與遍布六大洲的個人、小組及團隊共事，協助他們增強實力並滿懷信心克服艱巨的困難。他曾擔任英國政府的一級主管，廣泛歷練各部門的局處首長層級職位，包括財經、政策、交通和運輸等領域。他著有三十本關於領導力的專書，每一本都擲地有聲，目前是英國、澳洲和加拿大等八所高等教育機構的領導力發展學客座教授。

＜譯者簡介＞

黃開

abctix@gmail.com

自由譯者，譯有《計時簡史》、《思考的法則》、《大規模領導力》等多本書。

目次

序──讓隱喻帶你表現出最佳引導力和影響力

前言──使用隱喻，能製造具創意及啟發性的對話

PART 1 願景

1. 種子必須死去 The seed has to die

2. 失之東隅，收之桑榆 When one door closes another opens

3. 隧道盡頭見曙光 The light at the end of the tunnel

4. 路上的絆腳石 The rocks in the way

5. 舊的不去，新的不來 There has to be an ending before there can be a new beginning.

6. 從高處俯瞰 A bird’s-eye view

7. 攀登另一座山 The next mountain to climb

8. 越線之前先看會跌多遠 Don’t jump over the edge without looking how far you might fall

9. 扭轉局面 Turn the tables

10. 適時另闢蹊徑 Time to blaze a trail

11. 潮起必有潮落 Every tide has its ebb

12. 三思而後行 Look before you leap

13. 萬丈高樓平地起 Great oaks from little acorns grow

14. 懦夫難贏美人心 Faint hearts never won fair lady

15. 失之毫釐，謬以千里 A miss is as good as a mile

16. 需要為發明之母 Necessity is the mother of invention

17. 獨木難成林 One swallow does not make a summer

18. 慎防自我意識之爭 Beware of the battle of the egos

19. 鍊條的強度取決於最弱的一環 A chain is only as strong as its weakest link

20. 千里之行，始於足下 A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step

21. 一畫勝千言 A picture is worth a thousand words

22. 切勿殺雞取卵 Don’t kill the goose that lays the golden egg

23. 超越鼠目寸光 Look beyond the end of your nose

24. 急功近利／竭澤而漁 The immediate can drive out the important

PART 2 價值

25. 希望之泉永不枯竭 Hope springs eternal

26. 剃刀邊緣 A close shave

27. 人生就是旋轉木馬 Life is a roundabout

28. 不吠的狗 The dog that didn’t bark

29. 持續觀察 Keep watch

30. 保持距離，以策安全 Know when to keep your distance

31. 房間裡的大象 The elephant in the room

32. 言歸於好 Bury the hatchet

33. 劃出底線 Draw the line

34. 勇於面對現實，接受不良的後果 Face the music

35. 不要浪費危機 Don’t waste a crisis

36. 揭人瘡疤等於揭己之短 People in glass house should not throw stones

37. 多聽少說 We have two ears and one mouth

38. 裝睡的人叫不醒／裝聾的人耳不聰 None so deaf as those who will not hear

39. 心口相應 Connect brain to mouth

40. 無風不起浪 No smoke without fire

41. 一朝被蛇咬，十年怕草繩 Once bitten twice shy

42. 沉默即表示同意 Silence gives consent

43. 不必炒熱場子 Don’t feel you have to fill the silence

44. 少說少錯 The least said the soonest mended

45. 真相將會水落石出 Truth will out

46. 仁者見仁，智者見智 Truth has many dimensions

47. 冷眼看激情 Watch getting steamed up

48. 避免冷淡待人 Be mindful if you are giving the cold shoulder

49. 坐而言不如起而行 Actions speak louder than words

50. 閃閃發亮的未必是黃金 All that glitters is not gold

51. 種瓜得瓜，種豆得豆 As you sow so shall you reap

52. 親不敬，熟生蔑 Watch if familiarity breeds contempt

53. 巧婦難為無米之炊 You can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear

PART 3 附加價值

54. 先馳得點，捷足先登 A foot in the door

55. 罐子裡的第一顆石頭 The first rocks in the jar

56. 房子要建在岩石而非沙子上 Build on rock and not on sand

57. 克服重重阻礙 The hoop you have to jump through

58. 進三步退兩步 Three steps forward and two steps back

59. 烏龜慢走更快抵達 Go slow to go fast

60. 許願需謹慎 Be careful what you wish for

61. 掌舵而非划槳 Steering not rowing

62. 全副武裝上陣 Armed to the teeth

63. 英勇的王者之心 Lion-hearted

64. 等待雲消霧散／等待良機 Wait till the clouds roll by

65. 鳶飛戾天，俯仰自如 Soaring and swooping like an eagle

66. 有備無患 Keep your powder dry

67. 防患於未然 Nip in the bud

68. 早起的鳥兒有蟲吃 The early bird catches the worm

69. 打鐵趁熱 Strike while the iron is hot

70. 維持蓬勃發展 Keep the pot boiling

71. 當機立斷 Take the bull by the horns

72. 人人平等 A cat may look at a king

73. 把握良機 Make hay while the sun shines

74. 得心應手的訣竅 Know the ropes

75. 聊勝於無 Half a loaf is better than none

76. 風水輪流轉 Fortune knocks once on every door

77. 三個臭皮匠，勝過一個諸葛亮 Two heads are better than one

78. 三個和尚沒水喝／人多誤事 Too many cooks spoil the broth

79. 小洞不補，大洞吃苦 A stitch in time saves nine

80. 慎防骨牌效應 Be alert to the domino effect

81. 全力以赴 Put your best foot forward

82. 力求殊途同歸Seek to ensure both ends meet

83. 山中無老虎，猴子稱大王 Among the blind the one-eyed man is king

84. 遲到總比缺席好 Better late than never

85. 小心駛得萬年船 Discretion is the better part of valour

86. 綜觀全局，洞悉本質 Be on the balcony and on the dance floor

87. 偶爾深入檢視 Use the long screwdriver occasionally

88. 一絲真相 A germ of truth

89. 密室對談 Conversations in the grey space

90. 三振出局 Three strikes and you are out

91. 為提醒做好準備 Be ready for the wake-up call

PART 4 生命力

92. 油箱裡的猛虎能量 Put a tiger in your tank

93. 不要白費力氣 Don’t hit your head against a brick wall

94. 輕而易舉之事 A walk in the park

95. 先會走路再學跑步 Walk before you run

96. 來個深呼吸 Take deep breaths

97. 世事有起必有落 What goes up comes down

98. 掌握時機，切勿隨波逐流 Show a clean pair of heals

99. 沉默是金 Hold your tongue

100. 找人閒聊／集思廣益 Chew the fat

101. 除舊布新，開創新局 Turn over a new leaf

102. 匍匐前進，低調行事 Go on all fours

103. 小睡片刻 Take forty winks

104. 冷靜的良心之聲 Still small voice of calm

105. 小別勝新婚 Absence makes the heart grow fonder

106. 「有一天」就是沒那一天 Any time means no time

107. 不要畫蛇添足Leave well alone

108. 鹿死誰手，尚未可知 He laughs best who laughs last

109. 省到就是賺到 A penny saved is a penny gained

110. 一分耕耘，一分收穫 No pain no gain

111. 深藏不露 Still waters run deep

112. 避免過度努力工作 Beware going into overdrive

113. 注意心理不平衡 Watch the chip on the shoulder

114. 留意自己情緒低落時 Watch if your heart is in your boots

115. 君子之交 Keep your distance

116. 貓有九條命 A cat has nine lives

117. 遊手好閒是萬惡之本 An idle brain is the Devil’s workshop

118. 預防勝於治療 An ounce of protection is worth a pound of cure

119. 好的開始是成功的一半 A task begun is half done

120. 美麗僅存於膚淺的表面 Beauty is only skin deep

121. 寧願耗盡，不願鏽壞 Better to wear out than rust out

122. 柿子挑軟的吃；從最簡單的下手 Cross the stream where it is at its shallowest

123. 你歡笑，全世界跟著你笑 Laugh and the world laughs with you

124. 確保你的積極度 Bottle the positives

PART 5 你應該注意的風險

125. 嗤之以鼻 Turn up your nose

126. 糊口度日 Live from hand to mouth

127. 裝瘋賣傻 Act the goat

128. 趾高氣揚 Ride the high horse

129. 玩火自焚 Play with fire

130. 不小心說溜嘴 Let the cat out of the bag

131. 四處奔走 Rush from pillar to post

132. 小題大作／大驚小怪 Create a storm in a teacup

133. 美中不足 Are the fly in the ointment

134. 病急亂投醫 Clutch at straws

135. 孤立無援 Are left high and dry

136. 寵壞的小羊會成為壞脾氣的大羊 Nurture a pet lamb who becomes a cross ram

137. 貪多必失 Grasp all and lose all

138. 走進死胡同 Run into a brick wall

139. 狗吠火車／徒勞無益 Flog a dead horse

140. 一步錯，步步錯Slide down a slippery slope

141. 臨陣脫逃 Be alert to when you have cold feet

142. 期待萬無一失 Expect everything to be copper bottomed

143. 掃興之人 Are a wet blanket

144. 得意忘形 Get carried away with excitement

145. 有眼無珠 Are viewed as being as blind as a bat

146. 成事敗事，一線之隔 Are seen as a peppery individual

147. 牆頭草，風吹兩面倒 Are always sat on the fence

148. 處事輕率無常 Are seen as playing fast and loose

149. 惹禍上身 Get into hot water

150. 未戰先降 Throw in the sponge too early

151. 本末倒置 Put the cart before the horse

152. 蠟燭兩頭燒 Are burning the candle at both ends

153. 操之過急 Jump the gun

154. 總是潑冷水 Are always throwing cold water

155. 視若無睹 Are seen as blind to behaviours

156. 曇花一現 Are seen as a flash in a pan

157. 忘恩負義 Bite the hand that feeds

158. 打如意算盤 Count your chickens before they hatch

159. 以貌取人Judge a book by its cover

160. 銷聲匿跡 Disappear without trace

161. 今日之我受限於昨日之我 Be captive to your former self

162. 智者不為，愚者往前衝 Jump in where angels fear to tread

163. 勿遷怒於傳遞壞消息的人 Shoot the messenger

164. 淪為野心的奴隸 Be a slave to ambition

PART 6 以莎士比亞為師

165. 拖延沒有好下場 Delays have dangerous ends──henry VI

166. 內心的狂風暴雨 Blown with the windy tempest of my heart──Henry VI

167. 年少輕狂，未更世事 My salad days when I was green in judgement──Anthony and Cleopatra

168. 日益成熟或逐漸腐爛 From hour to hour we ripe and ripe. And then from hour to hour we rot and rot──As You Like It

169. 簡潔乃機智之靈魂 Brevity is the soul of wit──Hamlet

170. 旁敲側擊，投石問路 By indirections find directions out──Hamlet

171. 因果循環，周而復始 The wheel has come full circle──King Lear

172. 逆境乃是最有益之事 There is no virtue like necessity──Richard II

173. 悲傷勝過憤恨 More in sorrow than anger──Hamlet

174. 做繭自縛／自食其果 Hoist with his own petard──Hamlet

PART 7 我們的心態

175. 百花齊放，百家爭鳴 Let a thousand flowers bloom

176. 未行之路；無人走過的路 The road not taken

177. 人生是馬拉松，不是百米短跑 See life as a marathon and not a sprint

178. 開啟未來無限的可能性 Take the lid off

179. 以往鑒來 Look through the other end of the telescope

180. 急流中知進退 Watch getting caught in the vortex

181. 避免沉溺於幻滅的夢想 Watch dwelling on broken dreams

182. 慎防陷入憤怒的漩渦中 Beware getting caught in a huddle of anger

183. 怪罪他人既輕鬆也易自毀 The blame-game is easy and self-destructive

184. 一臉茫然地聳肩 The puzzled shrug of the shoulders

PART 8 永恆的真理

185. 自食其果 As you make your bed you must lie on it

186. 量入為出Cut your coat according to your cloth

187. 以退為進 Withdraw gracefully

188. 勿把所有雞蛋放在同一個籃子裡 Don’t carry all your eggs in one basket

189. 雨過天晴；天無絕人之路 Every cloud has a silver lining

190. 前事不忘，後事之師 Experience teaches fools

191. 驕兵必敗 Pride comes before a fall

192. 人不為己，天誅地滅 Turkeys don’t vote for Christmas

193. 欲正人者，先正其身 Remove the beam from your eye first

194. 水能載舟，亦能覆舟 Fire is a good servant and a bad master

195. 出錢的就是老大 He who pays the piper calls the tune

196. 路必有彎，事必有變／否極泰來 It’s a long lane with no turning

197. 一視同仁，不分厚薄 Sauce for goose is sauce for the gander

198. 人生不是一次彩排 Life is not a dress rehearsal

199. 失去之後才知道珍惜 We never miss the water until the well runs dry

200. 有志者事竟成 Where there is a will there is a way

誌謝

參考書單

關於作者

索引