The phrase “elephant in the room” refers to a big, obvious problem that everyone is aware of, but nobody wants to talk about. It’s like there’s a giant elephant right in the middle of the room, but everyone pretends they don’t see it.
Cause: There can be many reasons why people might avoid discussing the elephant. Maybe it’s a sensitive topic, or people are afraid of conflict. Sometimes, it’s easier to just ignore the problem and hope it goes away (which usually doesn’t happen!).
Effect: Ignoring the elephant can make things worse. The problem doesn’t disappear, and the tension of not talking about it can make it harder to deal with later. It can also damage trust and communication within a team or group.
Try this: Invite openly the team to address any elephant in the room. Appreciate every report of an elephant and foster learning from such incidents.
Albrecht Günther 