In the past few months, Elmo has been making frequent appearances in our office. He can be seen here in our supply caddy which we bring to every in-person meeting.
Elmo provides a very specific function in our meetings aside from being generally delightful and soft.
Elmo stands for
Enough,
Let’s
Move
On
It’s a fun way to let someone (usually me) know that the point was made, understood, and further pontification is unnecessary.
As someone who is frequently on the receiving end of Elmo, I can personally say that this is the most joyful way I’ve ever been told to shut up and I really don’t mind it.
Sometimes Elmo slowly creeps into view. Sometimes he dances. Sometimes I just notice him sitting in the caddy and shut myself up. Sometimes he shows up in jpg or gif form during remote conversations when we’re collaborating on a google doc, a trello board, or mural. His majestic presence helps ensure that our conversations stay on point.
I highly recommend adding Elmo to your toolkit. He adds a welcome efficiency to conversations and a warmer alternative to rolling your eyes or zoning out.
UPDATE: I can’t remember who originally introduced me to ELMO as an acronym. If it was you, let me know in the comments to I can update the post.