Worse things
happen at sea
Don’t let the language you use become an elephant in the corner,
write Carol Sherriff and Simon Wilson
Organisational metaphors abound. A policy unit was waiting
for the cavalry to arrive; a large organisation in partnership
with a smaller one was an elephant scared by the mice
around its feet; a primary care trust saw itself as the Robin
Hood of the local health service.
Metaphors illustrate how individuals really experience their own organisation. Exploring organisational metaphors enables all – from the board, partnerships and teams to solve complex issues in an easy and enjoyable way.
The Robin Hood metaphor (used at a board meeting)
sparked a discussion about who was the sheriff of Nottingham.
By the next meeting, the board were no longer talking
about Robin Hood but about a flotilla of many different sized
ships, sail boats and windsurfers, each with their own captain
and crew but also with an agreed destination.
The elephant recognised that while it was the larger, more
powerful organisation, it could be slow and cumbersome.
It trumpeted loudly at any unexpected move from the mice underfoot, causing them
to scurry about still more. The organisations used these insights and the common
language developed through the metaphor to work together.
Everyone’s take on metaphors is different yet
everyone knows what is being discussed.
There is a tendency to jump from the metaphor back to the problem. However, deep
change comes when people are interested and intrigued and stay with it – how does a flotilla of different boats keep on the same course? How do they agree a change of plan while at sea?
The authors are directors of Wilson Sherriff, wilsonsherriff.com
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