Caroline Stokes - Elephants Before Unicorns: Emotionally Intelligent HR Strategies to Save Your Company

Praise for Elephants Before Unicorns

More money goes into bureaucratizing the workforce than inspiring the millions of people who turn up to work hoping to be able to do a good job each day. If more organizations paid attention to the lessons of this book, they would find both their work and their lives transformed.

MARGARET HEFFERNAN, CEO AND AUTHOR OF WILLFUL BLINDNESS

In Elephants Before Unicorns, Caroline Stokes does an enlightening job of bringing emotional intelligence to the hiring, onboarding, engaging, developing, and leading aspects of people in organizations. Starting from her own frustration in big brand organizations, she followed her heart to discover the magic of what makes great organizations so special. Theres a lot you can use here to help transform your organization for the better. And it might save you some of the frustrations Caroline went through to get there.

STEVEN J. STEIN, FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN OF MULTI-HEALTH SYSTEMS, CO-AUTHOR OF THE EQ EDGE: EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AND YOUR SUCCESS AND THE EQ LEADER

In the advent of AI and robotics, fears abound about the future of work. Drawing on her vast experience as a business coach, Caroline cuts through the doom and gloom and offers an uplifting view of the next industrial revolution. In this informed, practical guide she demonstrates how tackling elephants or oft-invisible obstacles, while developing emotional intelligence is critical to success in an AI future. I recommend her book to people leaders who want to lean into their power and shape a future-forward workforce.

CHRISTOPHER YOUNG, VP OF ENTERTAINMENT CREATION PRODUCTS AUTODESK

Want to get ahead in the talent wars? In Elephants Before Unicorns, Caroline Stokes has created a wise, practical success manual for modern leaders. If you seek to build talented teamsand ensure your organization thrives in the age of AIpick up this book now.

DORIE CLARK, AUTHOR OF ENTREPRENEURIAL YOU AND STAND OUT, AND ADJUNCT PROFESSOR DUKE UNIVERSITY FUQUA SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

Caroline Stokes Elephants Before Unicorns is a must-read for business leaders. What worked for companies in the past will not work for forward-thinking organizations hoping to attract and retain the superstars of tomorrow. With humor and heart, Caroline brings her experience to bear in sharing how companies can win the war for talent and thrive in the AI age.

MARSHALL GOLDSMITH, NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF TRIGGERS, MOJO, AND WHAT GOT YOU HERE WONT GET YOU THERE

With Elephants Before Unicorns, Caroline Stokes brings her years of experience, emotional intelligence and must-learn lessons for business giants. In a time where hiring the right players for your team has never been more important, this book has the winning formula for any and every hiring decision. I recommend you ride this wave with Caroline and watch the magic happen.

IAN CURRAN, PRESIDENT AND COO OF SEGA OF AMERICA

Elephants Before Unicorns is a must-read for organizational leaders, from CEOs to stressed-out recruiters. When it comes to transforming the how and why your organization finds talent, every organization has problem areas holding us back from potential greatness. Caroline does a wonderful job of helping us discover and address these elephants in our own organizations so we can all thrive!

TIM SACKETT, PRESIDENT OF HRU TECHNICAL RESOURCES AUTHOR OF THE TALENT FIX

A mindful organization starts with mindful leaders. Elephants Before Unicorns is an invaluable resource for leaders who want to evolve their companies emotional intelligence and create a happier workplace for their teams.

JACQUELINE CARTER, PARTNER AT POTENTIAL PROJECT INTERNATIONAL AND AUTHOR OF THE MIND OF THE LEADER: HOW TO LEAD YOURSELF, YOUR PEOPLE AND YOUR ORGANIZATION FOR EXTRAORDINARY RESULTS

elephants before unicorns

Emotionally Intelligent HR Strategies To Save Your Company

caroline stokes

Entrepreneur Press

Entrepreneur Press, Publisher

Cover Design: Andrew Welyczko

Production and Composition: Eliot House Productions

2019 by Entrepreneur Media, Inc.

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ebook ISBN: 978-1-61308-415-1

To my husband, David Harries, for frequently telling me I could write a book, even before I knew that I wanted to write a book. His vision of my capabilities, encouragement, patience, and support are more than I could have wished for from my life partner and the father of my children. And many thanks to my rapidly growing young adults, Jasper and Felix, for continually understanding my love for the work I choose to do and making way for me to do it. Thanks, home team!

Contents

by Darrell M. West

Foreword by Darrell M. West

Author of The Future of Work: Robots, AI, and Automation

T his is a time of tremendous change worldwide. New digital technologies such as artificial intelligence and robots are transforming major business sectors, from health care and transportation to education and retail. With the aid of emerging technologies, businesses are less likely to rely on traditional employees working in isolation in an office cubicle. Instead, they are automating routine tasks, offering flexible work arrangements, and encouraging teamwork and collaboration.

Yet many workplaces still recruit the old-fashioned way, make decisions in a hierarchical manner, dont understand the kind of talent they need, and are confused about their overall mission. As a result, they make mistakes that drive away key talent and prevent their organization from achieving its full potential. Too often, firms look more to the past than the future for answers.

In this book, Caroline Stokes tackles the crucial topics of how to lead during transformative times and the importance of emotional intelligence in handling current challenges. A noted thinker with a background in corporate communications, strategic management, and executive recruitment, she offers keen insights into todays vexing questions:

How do you build effective teams?

How do you break down organizational silos?

How do you deal with a rapidly changing world when conventional answers are no longer compelling?

She proposes an innovative approach based on finding unicorns. These are people with the ability to manage organizations through challenging transitions. Drawing on a wealth of knowledge from her personal experiences as well as the experiences of those she has coached, Caroline paints a compelling portrait of the types of individuals businesses need today, as well as how organizations should handle a wide range of internal and external obstacles.