Leadership Lessons from “Eating the Elephant”
Applying critical solution based thinking and prioritisation sequencing to overcome overwhelming challenges
“How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.”
I have always agreed with this statement and understood it was created to prevent inertia; however, I have always thought it is an oversimplification and doesn’t factor in the need to assess which part of the elephant you need to eat first.
The statement seems to suggest that we should blindly move forward with tasks, which, yes, help you eat into the problem, but get you no closer to fixing it!
My view is always to stand back and assess the crisis, understand your critical path items, and then by all means break them down into bite-sized deliverables!
Understanding Leadership Types for Incremental Progress
I have probably nailed my colours quite clearly to the mast, in terms of my leadership style through the opening of this insight; however, I wanted to outline below that there are many ways to manage the way the “activities” post you agreeing the critical path items can be delivered.
When I communicate with leadership teams who are in crisis one of my first questions is how confident are you in your colleague behaviours when placed under pressure?
My reasoning for this is because knowing your people’s emotional drivers, enables you to craft the message and lead them through the critical path items in a way that engages them, as normally the problem may sit at board level, but will require a significant amount of work on the ground to solve the issue “one bite at a time”.
There are several leadership styles that are all valid, dependant on the situation faced and colleague make up:
- Authoritative Leadership (Autocratic)
- Democratic Leadership (Participative)
- Transformational Leadership
- Servant Leadership
- Laissez-Faire Leadership
- Transactional Leadership
- Adaptive Leadership
Each style brings a distinct approach to dividing large problems into achievable actions. Below, I explore the benefits of each approach.
Authoritative Leadership: Decisive First Steps
When a crisis first hits and paralysis threatens, authoritative leaders shine by taking decisive action. They break the initial barrier, setting clear, immediate priorities, cutting the “elephant” down to size. Their direction allows teams to focus on the first crucial “bite,” providing clarity and confidence that the journey has begun.
- Rapid prioritisation
- Immediate reduction of chaos
- Clear milestones for action
Democratic Leadership: Building Momentum Together
As the crisis unfolds, democratic leaders excel at distributing the workload. By involving the team in decision-making, they encourage ownership over each step. Everyone contributes to “eating the elephant” one bite at a time collaborating, sharing perspectives, and ensuring that the task is not only manageable but shared.
- Shared responsibility for tasks
- Diverse strategies for breaking down problems
- Increased engagement and resilience
Transformational Leadership: Inspiring Perseverance
Long-term crises can sap motivation, especially when progress is slow. Transformational leaders keep energy high by constantly reminding teams of the ultimate goal, which is why each small bite matters. They inspire perseverance, turning incremental wins into a larger movement and helping everyone see how today’s effort builds tomorrow’s success.
- Maintaining a motivating vision
- Celebrating small victories
- Encouraging personal growth through steady progress
Servant Leadership: Sustaining the Team Bite by Bite
Servant leaders ensure the team’s well-being is prioritised throughout the process. By listening, offering support, and addressing individual concerns, they keep team members energised and able to contribute to the next “bite.” Their empathy creates a supportive environment where no one is left to tackle a problem alone.
- Emotional support for incremental progress
- Attention to team morale and energy
- Fostering trust and collaboration
Laissez-Faire Leadership: Empowering Independent Problem-Solving
Some teams are best left to devise their own solutions for each step. Laissez-faire leaders grant autonomy, trusting experts to determine how to approach their portion of the problem. This freedom can speed up the process and encourage innovation, as each “bite” is handled by those best equipped for it.
- Autonomy in tackling sub-tasks
- Encouragement of creativity and initiative
- Building confidence through responsibility
Transactional Leadership: Creating Structure for Each Step
Transactionally minded leaders bring order to the process, ensuring that every small task is recognised and rewarded. They set up systems that make each “bite” clear, track progress, and keep everyone accountable, helping the team stay disciplined as they move through the crisis, bit by manageable bit.
- Clear structures and expectations
- Recognition of small achievements
- Consistency in incremental progress
Adaptive Leadership: Adjusting Each Bite to the Situation
Crisis is rarely straight forward and adaptive leaders excel at adjusting strategies as the situation unfolds. They are comfortable with uncertainty, shifting focus to the next manageable step as new information appears. This flexibility ensures that “eating the elephant” is always possible, even if the shape of the challenge changes mid-course.
- Flexible problem-solving
- Continuous reassessment of priorities
- Learning and evolving with each bite
Looking The Elephant in The Eye Before You Bite
Crises will always test the limits of what individuals and organisations can handle, but with the right leadership, adapted for the situation you face, even the largest challenges are not insurmountable.
If your business is facing a crisis and time is on your side, solving big problems incrementally allows you to use a blend of leadership styles. The most successful leaders know when to direct, when to listen, when to inspire, and when to adapt, always breaking the crisis down into steps that their team can handle.
However, when your business needs to turn the wheel quickly, approaching the problem to assess critical path items and then communicating them with your colleagues in bite-sized deliverables is by far the best course of action! This methodology tackles the big issues head on and when they start to be removed, you will normally fix minor items along the way anyway, and the issues that need addressing are radically different from the ones you identified before you set off!
At Arx Nova, we approach each business as an individual entity, as there is no one-size-fits-all; however, we always challenge senior leaders to identify two key pieces of information for us: what is the time constraint, and what are the characteristics of your workforce to absorb information. Once we understand these two factors, we can work with you to adapt your messaging and activities to eat that elephant once and for all!
Who’s behind this post?
Chris Johnson
Director & Co-Founder
Chris Johnson is a Chartered Legal Executive and Co-Founder of Arx Nova. He specialises in legal risk, governance, and business restructuring during periods of instability. With over 17 years of experience across the legal and professional services sectors, Chris supports leadership teams to regain control, navigate complexity, and stabilise quickly.
