Boost team collaboration by addressing the elephant in the room

What It is

Our Elephant in the Room exercise is a powerful tool for fostering open communication and team collaboration. By using a physical representation of a sensitive or taboo topic, this activity encourages participants to confront uncomfortable issues head-on. This interactive approach promotes a safe and supportive environment where team members can express their concerns and work together to find solutions.

This exercise brings the metaphor of ‘the elephant in the room’ to life by means of a large, stuffed toy elephant. Participants write ‘undiscussable’ topics on cards and pin them anonymously onto the elephant. At regular intervals, the group brings them up and talks them through. 

What to Use It For

• To make a statement that no topic is ‘off limits’
• To allow the group to bring up difficult topics for discussion

How It Works

Step 1. Introduce the elephant as early as possible in the session and invite participants to write any difficult or unmentionable topic on an index card and pin the card onto the elephant.

Step 2. At some convenient interval – the end of a day is a good time – review the cards with the client sponsor and agree how to address them with the group.

Step 3. Hold a group dialogue on these topics.

Timing

Group dialogue timing varies from 10 minutes periodically to larger 30-40 minute conversations.

Keep in Mind

• It is important to deal with every issue that gets pinned on the elephant and to avoid censoring difficult topics. To do so defeats the purpose of the exercise.
• The bigger the physical elephant, the better!

Find out more

Break out of the blah and make a move to extraordinary change and transformation events for your team. Find out how we bring fun and creativity to your facilitated events. We call it the Easy Way*. You’ll encounter less resistance and get more decisions made when you rely less on heavy change-management processes and more on collaboration.