The Barracuda and the Mackerel

A group of scientists built a fish tank for an experiment that had a clear wall in the center dividing the tank into two sections. On one side they placed a plump, juicy mackerel. On the other side, they placed a barracuda. The barracuda could see the mackerel, but it could not get to it. Within the first minute, the hungry barracuda spotted the mackerel and swam headfirst towards it and plowed into the center pane of glass. He swam away dizzied for awhile, but when the barracuda regained its senses, he went for the mackerel again! And like before, he slammed into the center pane of glass. This continued for quite some time before the barracuda decided “This hurts!” (It takes people a few knocks in the head sometimes to get it as well.)

The barracuda’s behavior began to change. It would see the mackerel and swim headfirst towards it, but it would turn right before it hit the center glass. This became a pattern – the barracuda would see the mackerel, think lunch and swim towards it, but right before it knocked its head, it would turn and swim away. This occurred enough times that eventually the scientists were able to take the center pane of glass out of the tank so that the barracuda could get to the mackerel and guess what happened? The barracuda swam right up to the same point and turned! Never getting the mackerel. As people, we have been conditioned or programmed to settle for less. We know that it is extraordinary to suggest a company be responsible for an employee’s self-esteem, but there you go again buying that couch for your office. We are not supporting that you try to influence or control their self-esteem. We want to make you aware of the undercurrents at play in a culture change. When you encounter resistance or reluctance to your new ideas, understand where it is coming from. The source is much deeper than plain stubbornness.

If you want to capture their hearts and their heads, you must develop a culture that cares for them as people and provides a nurturing environment for their self-esteem.