Transcript The Thin Book of Naming Elephants: How to Surface

The Thin Book of Naming Elephants:
How to Surface Undiscussables for
Greater Organizational Success
Author: Sue Annis Hammond & Andrea B.
Mayfield
Presenter: Dave Reazin
Working with a Client
• The future of the company depended on
people behaving very differently.
•If they didn’t change, they were going to
go out of business.
Look For
• The Saying/Doing Gap
Look For
• The Saying/Doing Gap
• Multiple Realities
Look For
• The Saying/Doing Gap
• Multiple Realities
• The Undiscussables
Undiscussables
Subjects become undiscussable to
“avoid surprise, embarrassment, or threat”
(Chris Argyris)
Key Leverage Points
“Paying attention to what people talk about
and what they don’t talk about is often an
overlooked key to organizational success”
Naming Elephants
1. Success breeds hubris
Naming Elephants
1. Success breeds hubris
2. The normalization of arrogance
– Arrogant people at the top
– The Screamer / Abrasive Manager
Naming Elephants
1. Success breeds hubris
2. The normalization of arrogance
– Arrogant people at the top
– The Screamer / Abrasive Manager
3. The Smart-Talk Trap
Discussion
• What are some “Elephants” that you
have experienced?
How do you name Elephants?
• Identify what is undiscussable
• Surface the underlying assumptions
• Learn how to have constructive dialogue
involving Tops, Middles, and Bottoms.
How do you Surface Assumptions?
“I assume that _________ because_________”
Many organizations do not have a way to
surface and compare assumptions.
Constructive Dialogue
“People talking to each other in a respectful
manner that allows information to be
shared and acted on”
Constructive Dialogue
1. Get the right people in the room
2. List all assumptions – brainstorm
3. Approach each assumption as if it were not
valid
4. Assign a devil’s advocates or contrarian role –
rotate role
5. Formalize the norm that every person is
expected to speak.
Strategies to Name Elephants
• Start small
• Pay attention to “leemers” (gut feeling)
• Create cross-checks
• Avoid the Blame Game
– Examine the impact of your action/inaction
Discussion
• What strategies do you use to
name “Elephants?”
Strategies to Encourage Others to
Name Elephants
• Understand the value of relationships
• Default to the curious, not the defensive
• Listen/be open to new ideas
• No news is bad news
• Dealing with arrogance
Discussion
• What strategies do you use to encourage
others to name “Elephants?”
Leadership Strategies to Promote the
Naming of Elephants
• Institute a Name-the-Elephant Award
• Establish an Ombudsman Role
• Create a Naming Elephant Website
• Use the power of a “Fundamental Surprise”
• Revise and reassess
Leadership Strategies to Promote the
Naming of Elephants
• Don’t drift into hubris
– Fine line between confidence and arrogance
• Assume incomplete communication
• Explore the Saying/Doing Gaps
• Learn from your success
• The real price of passivity: Losing opportunity
What you can do today
“Organizational change begins with you.
If you don’t have the authority to make the
decisions, you certainly have the authority to
challenge the decisions”
Discussion
• Open Forum
Feedback
• Pluses
• Negatives
• Lessons Learned