Those steady whales, they are the glue that holds your team together. Who else is going to care so much if the team is aligned or if we are following a process through to the end? Once they’ve bought in to an idea, they work it calmly through to the end.
Which is great so long as your plans don’t change. Sudden change can be stressful for them and if you push them you’ll see just how stubborn they can be. Whats more they can be reluctant to express disagreement with your idea so you may not even know you have a problem.
Beautiful whales avoid conflict because they fear rocking the boat – especially with tigers on board. I you have a team which doesn’t express disagreement, your level of trust actually declines.
So how can we help the whales feel safe and express their disagreement? First, give them your time – uninterrupted. Second invite their opinion specifically and the third is to listen and to watch their body language. If you detect a small problem, it may well be a big one in disguise.
Whales are an enormous asset to any team. Let’s help them increase their risk tolerance and assertiveness.
