Face the Elephant in the Room: Why Every Club Needs to Confront Its Biggest Challenges Early
Every club has one – the “elephant in the room.”
It’s the unspoken problem that everyone knows about but nobody wants to mention. It might be a long-standing debt, a committee member who’s past their use-by date, outdated systems or even a culture that resists change. Whatever it is, ignoring it doesn’t make it disappear, it just grows heavier and harder to deal with over time.
Clubs that thrive are those that have the courage to name their elephants early, face them head-on and take practical steps to move forward together.
The Cost of Avoidance
Avoiding difficult conversations is one of the most common and damaging habits in community clubs.
It usually starts with good intentions, nobody wants to cause conflict or hurt feelings, but over time, the silence becomes costly. Decisions stall, volunteers disengage and the club’s energy disappears.
Sometimes, it takes just one person to say what everyone’s thinking for progress to start again. But the longer it takes to raise the issue, the more momentum you lose.
Start Every Planning Process with Honesty
Whether your club is preparing a new strategic plan or just setting priorities for the year ahead, the first question on the table should be:
“Is there anything going on in this club that could stop us from achieving what we want to achieve?”
It sounds simple, but this one question can transform your planning session.
It gives everyone permission to be honest and ensures energy isn’t wasted building dreams on shaky foundations.
When that question isn’t asked until too late (or not at all) clubs risk spending time and money on plans that were doomed from the start.
Common “Elephants” Hiding in Clubs
There’s always at least one. Sometimes several. Here are a few of the usual suspects:
Facilities
You’re planning for growth, but the grounds, fields or clubhouse are already at capacity. Unless this limitation is addressed early, your plans will hit a wall.
Finances
Hidden debts, unpaid fees or unreliable funding sources can quietly undermine confidence and progress. Transparency is key. Face it early and make a plan.
Systems and Governance
Long meetings, unclear decision-making and outdated constitutions are often signs of governance strain. These issues rarely fix themselves. They need structure and process.
People
Sometimes, the hardest truth is that the elephant is a person. They may have done great things in the past but now resist change, dominate decisions or act in self-interest. Addressing this takes courage and sensitivity, but allowing it to continue can stall the entire club.
How to Address the Elephant (Without Causing a Stampede)
- Create a safe space. Start conversations in a respectful, structured environment, ideally during a facilitated session
- Focus on behaviour, not blame. Talk about actions and impacts, not personalities.
- Reconnect to purpose. Ask: “Why are we here? What’s best for the club?”
- Plan for succession. If someone’s time at the club is coming to an end, discuss who’s next and what skills are needed.
- Stay solution-focused. Once the elephant is named, move straight to practical steps for addressing it.
Why It Matters
Clubs that deal with their elephants are more united, efficient and resilient. They save time, reduce conflict and protect volunteer energy for what really matters – building community and creating positive experiences.
Leaving problems to “sort themselves out” only passes them on to the next committee. And that’s how basket case clubs stay basket cases.
Ready to Face Your Elephant?
If your club is ready to tackle the issues holding it back, whether it’s a financial problem, facility constraint or people challenge, start the conversation now. It’s one of the simplest, most powerful things you can do for your club’s future.
At CPR Group, we specialise in helping clubs create the space for honest conversations that lead to real progress. Our experienced facilitators know how to guide planning sessions that uncover the tough issues, bring committees together and build practical strategies for success.
If you’d like support running your next workshop or planning session, get in touch with our team. Together, we can help your club move past its elephants and towards a more efficient, united and future-ready organisation.
Contact CPR Group today to book a facilitated session that gets your club back on track: https://cprgroup.com.au/contact/
FAQs
What does “elephant in the room” mean for a club?
It’s the big issue that everyone knows about but avoids discussing, like finances, facilities or committee dynamics.
How do we start the conversation?
Ask open-ended questions in a structured planning session. A skilled facilitator can help keep the discussion constructive and calm.
What if the elephant is a person?
Focus on behaviours and their impact, not personalities. If necessary, discuss succession or reassign roles to protect the club’s progress.
Why deal with it now?
Avoidance leads to burnout and conflict. Addressing issues early builds trust and helps the club move forward with confidence.
Want to dive deeper into this topic?
For more insights and real-world stories on handling tough club issues, tune in to the Basket Case Clubs podcast episode, “Ep 97: The Elephant You’re Ignoring Won’t Save Your Club“.
Listen to the episode: https://cprgroup.com.au/podcast/
Watch the episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/F5nzCv0yixY
