Ever tried to convince yourself to hit the gym, only to find yourself knee-deep in a pizza? That’s your inner elephant, folks! Richard Haidt’s “Happiness Hypothesis” nailed it: we’re driven by emotions (the elephant) way more than logic (the rider). We think we’re in control, but our feelings are the real bosses. Taming the Elephant: Change Leadership 101.
Forget Descartes’ “I think, therefore I am.” More like, “I feel, therefore I grab that doughnut.” We’re not just brains on sticks! We’re a complex combo of feeli
ngs, thoughts, and bodies, all tangled up.
So, why does this matter at work? Picture this: you’ve got the most dazzling PowerPoint, packed with facts and figures. But your team’s still looking at you like you’re speaking Klingon. Why? Because you’re only talking to their riders!
Governments get it. They know yelling “Eat your veggies!” or “Wear a mask!” isn’t enough. They’ve called in the behaviour gurus to charm those elephants. And guess what? It works!
Here’s the secret sauce: you’ve got to win hearts AND minds. That means dazzling them with logic AND pulling those emotional levers.
One HUGE lever? Control! Nobody likes feeling like a puppet. When change is forced on us, our inner elephant throws a tantrum. But when we get to shape the change suddenly, we’re all in! We feel empowered, and our elephant is doing a happy dance.
So, next time you’re trying to lead change, remember you’re not just dealing with brains. You’re herding elephants. Give them a good reason to follow and make them feel like they’re part of the adventure. Trust me, it’s way more fun than just showing them spreadsheets!
Taming the Elephant: Change Leadership 101.
#leadingchange #organisationalchange #peoplechange #culturechange #leadership #mindsetchange
Elon Musk vs Public Service Bureaucracy 
