Sometimes you still need to hiss: The snake and the sage

A story by Ramakrishna Paramahansa that’s stayed with me — and one I keep going back to in my Leadership Habits sessions:

There was once a village plagued by a terrifying snake. Fearing for their lives, the villagers approached a wandering sage for help. The sage met the snake and said, “Be empathetic to the villagers. Do not harm them.”

Months later, the sage passed by again and found the snake lying bruised and weak in a dirty gutter. Even the village children were throwing stones at it.

The snake said, “I followed your advice. I stopped attacking. But now, they beat me daily.”

The sage replied gently, “I told you to be empathetic. I did not tell you to stop hissing.”

Empathy doesn't mean weakness. Whether you're leading a team, building a product, or navigating change — empathy helps you connect, but it doesn't mean you should stop signalling boundaries or standing your ground.

Sometimes, you still need to hiss.