🐘 Elephants in teams are common.

Some are cute. Some aren’t - like the ones that show up when things aren’t being said or addressed.

You can tell when they’re around. There might be tension in the room, silence around a particular topic, a shift in body language, or a change in energy.

When I sense elephants during a team coaching conversation, an actual elephant might appear.

I’ve got all kinds—big ones, small ones, smooth and rough ones, fluffy and leathery beasts, some with dangerous tusks, some without, some on wheels, some nearing retirement, and a few young calves.

They might be on the table. Or in the middle of the room. Or lurking quietly in the background. And there’s often more than one!

I’ll ask whether my elephant radar is on point. Whether they belong. How they got here. Whether the team would be better without them. And, most importantly, what it would take to move them on.

These conversations are critical because elephants don’t forget—they don’t go away. They linger. They grow. And sometimes they multiply, and you’re dealing with a whole herd. 🐘🐘🐘

Team coaching supports these conversations and encourages psychological safety - building collective elephant-wrangling capability.

If your team includes an elephant or two, and you're not sure how to manage them, please get in touch. Happy to have a chat.