When your snow is on fire, you know you have a problem.
Even when flames are extinguished, burning embers lie in wait right through the winter, waiting to reignite under dry conditions in the spring. Zombie Fires are a real threat in Canada where we have had several summers of massive forest fires.
You may not see those fires under the snow, but smoldering produces smoke. You can smell it in the air.
Every organization has zombie fires. They stem from broken promises and hurt feelings. From good employees being walked out the door and lack of justice when leaders go off the rails. It’s nice to think everything is OK, but emotions continue to burn hot beneath the surface. Saying the wrong words or implying that the past is best forgotten can be the trigger to reignite the flame…and the pain.
Left untended, they may not fully ignite, but they still weigh on employees’ minds. People talk, sharing their horror stories, which get worse in the retelling. It becomes part of the fabric of the culture and works against people’s desire to perform at their best and adapt to needed change.
To prevent zombie fires from bursting into another disaster, firefighters must dig them up, expose them, and put them out. The same applies to our organizations. Old wounds must be addressed and given a proper burial.
When leaders acknowledge their mistakes or the mistakes of their predecessors, they have an opportunity to earn credibility. Their vulnerability can make them stronger. People recognize that no one is perfect. Leaders make bad calls sometimes. Fear causes us to choose the worst options. But we don’t have to hide the problems.
Is there a fire burning below the surface in your culture? Did you catch a whiff of smoke? Don’t be afraid to ask what’s going on. Create a safe space and explore the organization’s history. When we give people a voice for their annoyance and disappointment, we often defuse a threat to change.
