Part 9/13:
Business leaders who can remain composed under pressure foster trust. If you feel overwhelmed, use the “duck gliding” analogy—appear calm on the surface while paddling furiously underneath—but never show weakness through emotional outbursts.
Name the Elephant: Address Unspoken Issues Head-On
Ignoring obvious problems doesn’t make them disappear. Sanchez suggests calling out the “big hairy elephant”—the obvious but unspoken issue—directly. For example, stating, “Are we not hitting targets because our product isn’t ready yet?” shifts the group’s focus toward solution-oriented conversation, increasing transparency.