SAGACITY...

From the Latin word SAPERE, which means both "to know" and "to smell."

We are told that primitive tribes had a special role for the sagacious person. He or she was to use an unusual gift of wisdom - literally the ability to smell danger -- on behalf of the tribe.

The sage tasted or smelled the food and let the others know what was safe to eat and what was not.

This person became the savant who was called upon the savor the situation in order to make sure there was nothing poisonous to the people.

William James told us how we develop sagacity. "To be sagacious," he said, "is to be a good observer."

*******

In some ways a consultant plays the role of that ancient sage. Our work allows us to move from situation to situation, always being as observant as possible.

After a while, we get to a point where we can smell trouble. Or to say it another way, it doesn't take long before we get a whiff that something in the situation is toxic.

Then our task is to help the tribal leaders - and the tribe itself - avoid those dangers they might otherwise not have known.