When faced with a difficult situation in education or politics, Howard Gardner offered the following suggestion of the “Three Jesse Test.” Take whatever the issue is and observe in your mind how Jesse Helms, Jesse Ventura, and Jesse Jackson would each react to whatever the particular situation is. Because these three never seem to come to agreement on anything, it will give you a great indication on how the different audiences may react to your positions or comments.
In the research I have done on exceptional leaders, most all of them have a great ability to observe their environment, culture, organization and situations from multiple perspectives. The “Three Jesse Test” is a concrete way to look at different situations in very extreme perspectives.
