Four Scary Meeting Creatures

Four creatures appear in every meeting: Elephants, Zombies, Squirrels, and Porcupines.

Inspired by an exercise called Elephant, Dead Fish, Vomit invented by Airbnb (and shared in the wonderful book Rituals for Work), Elephant, Zombie, Squirrel, Porcupine is a group conversation “tool” designed to nurture more honest dialog among people who work together. Here’s how to use it:

During every all-hands meeting, carve out time to discuss the following:

• Elephants: Big things people are worried about but not talking about.

• Zombies: Old issues, projects, or ways of working that never seem to go away.

• Squirrels: Things that might be distracting the organization or team from focusing on the work that matters most.

• Porcupines: Touchy subjects that might feel too hard to handle.

By naming each of these creatures, your group can have deeper conversations to help you get past the barrier each one of these entities poses.