Elephants are large animals standing up to 13 feet tall and weighing up to 15,000 pounds. It’s no wonder we associate our difficultty leading change with our inability to move an elephant.
My leadership team and I are finishing a study of the book Switch by Chip and Dan Heath. In Switch, Chip and Dan describe the process of leading change in the picture of an elephant and its rider.
In short, the rider represents rational and logical thought and the elephant represents our emotional needs. Leaders must address both sides by addressing the head of the rider by explaining the need for change while capturing the heart of the elephant so it desires the change.
My family and I had the opportunity to visit a family-run elephant preserve. We observed the elephants interacting, exercising, performing and even painting a picture. The preserve owners and trainers taught us the about the elephants and their individual personality and behavior. Read More…