How to help your (Human) HiPPO

Pablo Escobar the cocaine kingpin left a very uncocaine related legacy in Colombia, a ‘bloat’ of hippos he kept in a zoo in the 70s escaped as the zoo crumbled and have been thriving in their new found home (Bloat, yes that what a collection of hippos are called)

The thing is the hippos are threatening the region’s delicate ecosystems. Apparently a single hippo can produce up to 9kg of dung daily, which, in their native Africa, supported aquatic life and fed the fishes. But with changing climates and water scarcity, that same dung now creates toxic pools, devastating the creatures it used to nourish.

Colombia is probably facing a same fate, the marauding hippos are already causing chaos with people and the Columbian habitat as Rebecca Lewison, an ecologist at San Diego State University’s Coastal and Marine Institute, said in a Guardian article “Colombia has great biodiversity, and this is not a system that has evolved to support a mega-herbivore.”

And those mega-herbivores are breeding at pace, they are thriving, and the only solution seems to be castration….

Yep I am doing this…. Lets talk HiPPOs (the Highest Paid Person’s Opinion)….

In Research and Design workshops, a HiPPO can disrupt the balance of a collaborative environment. In organisations with a HiPPO culture, decisions often rely on seniority and authority, rather than the insights of a diverse team. This old-school approach overlooks the value others bring to the table, usually because the HiPPO is stood on the table talking.

I have always felt a lil hinky about the term TBH some highly compensated individuals bring exceptional expertise and humility, I have worked with them, they are amazing, but I am probably fretting over ‘not ALL HiPPOs territory…. Because in truth others dominate discussions, kill collaboration and are intolerant to ideas… other than their own, and I have had the pleasure of working with some of them as well!

BUT my biggest tip is — remember the HiPPO is human, a fleshy, thinking, feeling human, who has thoughts, feelings and behaviours.

However in UCD workshops, these HiPPOs can be as disruptive as Escobar’s, so will dive into this….

How can we manage HiPPOs in UCD spaces to ensure their contributions amplify the team’s efforts rather than overshadow them?

Hippos in Their Element or happy at home hippos

In their natural habitat, hippos play a vital role. They shape environments, maintain river channels, and create habitats that support other species. Similarly, HiPPOs or senior leaders as I may call them occasionally going forward can bring valuable perspectives, protect their teams, and shape organisational strategy. However, when removed from their “natural habitat” of structured leadership into the open choppy waters of a UCD workshop, they can sometimes behave disruptively.

If a HiPPO disrupts a workshop, it could often be because:

• They’re accustomed to dominating discussions and decision-making, thats the way its always been
• No one has questioned their behaviour or provided feedback on it
• They perceive their value as tied to being the most vocal or decisive
• Their intuition and gut has served them well in the past, so they trust it implicitly
• They feel uncomfortable or uncertain in an unfamiliar, collaborative setting

Approaching the HiPPO with Empathy

Facilitators should approach HiPPOs with care and empathy, recognising their humanity. They may feel vulnerable or unsure in environments where they’re no longer the sole authority. Using the ace SCARF model can help frame interactions:

Status: A HiPPO’s sense of importance often feels tied to their competence and authority. If they perceive their status as being questioned, they may dominate discussions or dismiss ideas to protect their standing. Facilitators can mitigate this by creating spaces of mutual respect and acknowledging their strengths and contributions.

Certainty: UCD workshops can feel chaotic to someone used to structure and authority. Clear guidelines like “one voice at a time” or explicitly stating the goal of inclusive participation can provide much-needed clarity. Visual cues, such as written ground rules, can reinforce this.

Autonomy: HiPPOs need to feel a sense of control. If they perceive their autonomy as being stripped, they may rebel. Offer flexibility in the workshop’s approach, allowing them to play to their strengths while also encouraging them to step back and observe the team’s collective creativity.

Relatedness: HiPPOs may feel isolated from the rest of the team. Foster a sense of belonging by emphasising teamwork and collaboration. Position the HiPPO as part of the group for the day — not the leader. Break bread with them, take breaks together, and remind them they’re part of the shared journey.

Fairness: Sharing the floor in a workshop may feel alien to a HiPPO, especially if they’re accustomed to their opinions dominating. Set clear expectations from the outset, ensuring they understand that the goal is to amplify all voices, not to silence theirs. Explicit guidelines create a sense of fairness for everyone involved.

Managing the Disruptive Behaviours

It is your role as the facilitator to hold the room, its not easy, but you can make it easier on yourself and the people in the room by thinking through SCARF and managing disruptive behaviours, if you engage with care the most disruptive participant can often become one of your strongest allies.

However if a HiPPO behaviours go unchecked, they can lead to:

• Over-Territoriality: Like hippos guarding their turf, HiPPOs may dominate discussions, dismissing others’ ideas to protect their agenda
• Unpredictable Aggression: HiPPOs may become defensive or reactive when challenged, creating a tense atmosphere
• Messy Influence: Hippos like to poop into the water, now this can feed the fishes, but too much creates a toxic pool that kills the environment. Negative comments or unwarranted criticism from a HiPPO can muddy the collaborative waters, making it harder for the group to move forward

Cultivating the Good Traits of HiPPOs

When managed effectively and cared for compassionately, HiPPOs can become invaluable contributors to a UCD workshop:

• Territorial Awareness: HiPPOs can bring a deep understanding of the organisational landscape, helping teams align their work with broader goals. Facilitate this, work with them, this could be done before the workshop so they feel involved and can see the bigger picture and importance of hearing the team. Respect that knowledge it can be golden
• Protective Nature: Like hippos shielding their pods, good leaders protect their teams, enabling them to focus on meaningful work, they can give permission to turn those tabs off, feel fully present and engage in the room
• Shaping the Environment: Just as hippos shape their ecosystems, strong leaders can help create an environment where others thrive, if the HiPPO understands and projects great workshop behaviours, others usually follow, if they show enthusiasm, curiosity in the room, lean in the team should to. Help onboard and feel a real part of the team rather than a leader or stakeholder for the day.

Facilitating a Balanced Workshop

As I said above … as a facilitator, your role is to help HiPPOs transition from territorial disruptors to collaborative enablers. By addressing their needs for status, certainty, autonomy, relatedness, and fairness, you create an environment where their strengths shine without overshadowing others.

Bring on my fave quote
“Every criticism, judgment, diagnosis, and expression of anger is the tragic expression of an unmet need.”
Marshall Rosenburg

The goal is to shape the “environment” of the workshop, like a hippo shape river channels, so EVERY participant contributes to the thriving ecosystem of ideas, amplifying the outcomes of the UCD process for the entire team.

And I repeat… Bloat, is indeed what a collection of hippos are called