(0)
Newsletter Article
How to Address the Elephant in the Room
By Nicole Wolfe and Dr. Travis Bradberry
There you are, just sitting in the conference room minding your own business and waiting for the meeting to start. Then in it comes—a gray 10,000-pound trunk-swinging monstrosity. To your dismay, it plants itself firmly in the center of the room. The meeting begins as expected, but everyone’s attention is drawn to the unwelcome centerpiece. As the meeting concludes, everyone is only vaguely aware of what was said because they were too distracted by what was not said.
We have all experienced the elephant in the room—a situation where everyone avoids a looming and important issue. Unaddressed issues of such gravity foster confusion and make everyone distracted, preoccupied, and even fearful. These emotions consume time and impede productivity.
Many prefer to avoid the unsettling emotions that come with addressing the elephant in the room. It is a leader’s responsibility to confront the elephant head on to avoid its damaging effects on productivity. If your group is without a leader—or at least one who is willing to take action—an elephant in the room is an opportunity for you to demonstrate your leadership skills. Recognizing the elephant is an important first step, but the challenge comes in addressing the elephant in a manner that enables everyone to discuss the issue comfortably and move past it. The strategies that follow will show you how to do just this.
