Can a Puppy Teach You Valuable Career Lessons?

What is it about puppies that captivates us? Whether you’re a dog person or not, you can’t spend five minutes in a room with a puppy and not smile. Those tiny paws and floppy ears demand our attention.

Maybe it’s the way they look at the world in wonder, as if they’re seeing everything for the first time. Maybe it’s the way they can be suddenly frightened, and then a few minutes later be chewing on a bone as if nothing had happened. We might admire they way they find joy in the everyday, or the way they handle day-to-day life in general. If only life were that simple, we think. We have careers and households to run.

But what if we approached the more complicated parts of our life in the way a puppy would? What if we took our fast-paced or monotonous career and made a few tweaks our loyal, steadfast, and silly friend, the puppy, might recommend?

Here are a few valuable career lessons a puppy can teach us:

Javier Brosch; BigStock

Clearly Communicate

Puppies learning potty training for the first time quickly learn the importance of communication. They need to figure out how to clearly let their owners know when it’s time to go. Otherwise, they might have an accident in the house and yelling will ensue. Puppies catch on quickly and realize they need to communicate their needs so you can meet them.

Communication is essential in every aspect of your work life. You need to be able to communicate with your coworkers and managers in a clear and concise fashion to get your point across and work in a team setting. Otherwise, mistakes and misunderstandings might happen that can be costly and set the whole team back.

AnnekaS; BigStock

Find Passion in the Little Things

Remember the look in your puppy’s eyes when you pulled the new chew toy out of the bag? Puppies can get excited about the littlest things, even the things that aren’t typically considered “toys.” But to a puppy, anything can be fun, depending on how she looks at it.

Look at your career and projects in the same fashion. When presented with a “boring” project, approach it like an adventure -- kind of like a puppy does with a paper bag. Find the things in your work that give you joy, and focus on those instead of what annoys you.

Antonio Gravante; BigStock

Be Persistent

Whether it’s digging a hole or yelping so you’ll take them for a walk, your puppy seems relentless in getting what he wants. Some call it annoying, but I look at it as persistent. And, clearly, it works. Your puppy’s cries tug on your heartstrings. You stop what you’re doing and take him out.

Now, I’m not suggesting cry at your boss until she gives you a promotion, but you can be persistent in completing projects to the best of your ability and your hard work may qualify you for a raise.

No matter what, think about the way a puppy never gives up. Just because you don’t budge the first two minutes of your puppy whimpering at the door doesn’t mean you won’t find a break in whatever you’re doing to let him out in the next 10 minutes. The puppy knows. The second he stops trying, he no longer has any shot of succeeding. Thinking like a persistent puppy can help you to stay on track and remain resilient even in the face of adversity.

Hannamariah; BigStock

Take a Break

After a long walk or some fun in the dog park, puppies settle down for a nap. Your puppy knows her limits, and when she sees an opportunity to rest after an exhausting game of squeaky toy, she takes it without a second thought.

Unfortunately, few employees take the time to rest after an exhausting day. When was the last time you took a nap after returning home from work? You don’t have time, you probably think. You’ve got to pick up the kids, start dinner, clean, pay bills, or maybe even set off for your second job. And I don’t recommend napping on work time.

When stress gets overwhelming, step away from the situation and take a break. Take a walk or practice mindfulness to get yourself back on track. Take a lesson from your puppy. She knows if she takes a few minutes to recharge now, she won’t crash later on.

Ksuksa; BigStock

Embrace Teamwork

New puppies learn they need to depend on their family for certain needs like food, water, and a warm place to sleep. Rarely reluctant to accept your help with filling their doggie dish, their tails whoosh side to side as you scoop out kibbles, dumping them into the bowls. Your puppies trust you to take care of them, just as you trust them to be your loyal companion in all situations.

Learn to trust your managers and coworkers, and don’t be afraid to work closely with others on important projects. In order to receive trust and respect, you must first trust and respect others. Once you gain respect for your skills, you’ll climb higher on the corporate ladder. But more importantly, with a loyal team behind you, you are all set to tackle the big goals.

Our faithful companions have been known for centuries as “man’s best friend” for a reason. They stay by our sides as we tackle life’s toughest moments and enjoy life’s richest joys. Now, we can look to their, perhaps overlooked, wisdom for managing our careers.

About Ilya Pozin:

Serial entrepreneur, writer and investor. Founder of Pluto TV, Open Me, and Ciplex. Writer for Forbes and Inc. Husband 1x, father 2x, entrepreneur 3x. Follow Ilya below to stay up-to-date.