Don’t be an LDHR Hamster

You know him; you love him.  The LDHR Llama has found a place in our hearts, but what about Mr Nibbles, the LDHR Hamster? He has a unique perspective on the workings and values of LDHR and feels rather like he is in the Llama’s shadow.  We sent the Llama along to have a word with him. We’ll let you eavesdrop on the conversation:

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Nibbles: Llama this! Llama that! Why does the Llama get to be the LDHR mascot? I would make a great mascot for LDHR. Notice that HamsteR has half the LDHR letters, but Llama only has one. Not only that, but everyone loves hamsters. 

Llama: Mr. Nibbles, I couldn’t help but overhear you talking to yourself just then, and I understand your frustration. Could you tell me what ‘hamster traits’ qualify you for the mascot role?  

Nibbles: That’s easy. #1 – Hamsters always keep busy running around in circles on our wheels.

Llama: But what are you accomplishing? You may be busy, but LDHR hamsters sometimes focus on things that strategy leaders may see as unproductive or even hindrances to movement growth and expansion. 

Nibbles: Well…#2 – We are solitary creatures, meaning we can get work done by ourselves in our cages.

Llama: It’s true, LDHR Hamsters can be very content alone in their office running their processes. But sometimes, they are perceived as disconnected from or unengaged in serving and caring for people.

Nibbles: Ahh, good point, but #3 – We’re good at hoarding resources in our cheek pouches and making sure we have enough for ourselves.

Llama: LDHR has many excellent resources that could help meet real needs, and  LDHR Hamsters could sometimes do better at sharing these resources so they are known and accessible to others. 

Nibbles: Well, #4 is confidentiality. We often bury ourselves under the wood chips and paper in our cages, where no one can find us.

Llama: Confidentiality is a necessary LDHR trait, but LDHR Hamsters sometimes hide behind the confidentiality of LDHR matters to avoid engaging with and getting unwanted pushback from others.

Nibbles: OK, but how about #5? We have great capacity. We chew everything we can find in the cage and leave the pieces scattered everywhere.

Llama: LDHR Hamsters work hard, it’s true. You conduct assessments, surveys, and investigations and oversee policies that uncover messy issues, but do you think that sometimes you don’t go the next step and actually offer practical solutions to help clean them up?

Nibbles: Maybe, but hey…#6:  We’re BOLD!  Unlike a mouse, we will not try to plan the best way to climb down from a high place but will just walk right over the edge.  

Llama: That might not be boldness, Mr Nibbles. Other leaders often see LDHR Hamsters as making decisions impulsively or emotionally rather than strategically and then being inconsistent in implementing policy exceptions.

Nibbles: People sometimes think we’re not open to change, but how about #7? If we find a cage opening, we will instinctively choose to escape!

Llama: I do understand, but is escaping the change we need? In digging for issues and managing processes, LDHR Hamsters sometimes find things that paralyse and overwhelm them and cause them to be disillusioned. But bailing out is not the “change” other leaders need from us.

Nibbles: Hmmmmm. You’ve got me thinking.

Llama: Thinking’s good. I wonder if it has to be this way, Mr Nibbles? Some of your actions align with negative LDHR stereotypes. And they can hinder our effectiveness and reputation. Maybe we can avoid these negative LDHR Hamster traits and replace them with positive actions that build the organization and provide environments of care and development for our people. 

Nibbles: So, I think I’ll postpone the “Hamster for Mascot” campaign for another day and try to be a little less Hamster and be more Llama!

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How have you seen some of these negative characteristics play out?
What have you done to change some of these negative stereotypes?

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