Run Towards The Storm

Leadership Lessons from the American Buffalo

In the vast plains of North America, a remarkable phenomenon occurs when storms roll in. While most animals flee from an approaching storm, the American Buffalo do something quite remarkable, they run towards it.

This behaviour is not born out of recklessness but rather wisdom: by heading directly into the storm, buffalo minimise their exposure to it, emerging stronger and more resilient on the other side.

This unique approach offers a powerful analogy for leadership, particularly in cultivating a happy and healthy leadership team. Here’s how embracing the “buffalo mindset” can transform the way leaders navigate challenges and build cohesive, thriving teams.

Buffalo teach us the value of confronting difficulties directly. In leadership, avoidance of issues, whether it’s conflict, underperformance, or tough decisions, only prolongs the pain.

A healthy leadership team thrives on transparency and a willingness to tackle problems as they arise. By addressing challenges head-on, teams can resolve issues faster, build trust, and move forward with clarity.

• Action Tip: Encourage open communication during team meetings, creating a space where concerns can be shared and resolved constructively. Tools like EOS’s Issues Solving Track (IDS) can provide a structured way to tackle problems effectively.

Storms, whether literal or metaphorical, are unavoidable. What matters is how teams respond. When a leadership team embraces challenges together, they cultivate resilience and strengthen their bonds.

Just like buffalo endure the storm together, a united leadership team can withstand uncertainty, market shifts, or internal change with greater confidence. This shared resilience fosters a culture of trust and mutual support, which is essential for long-term success.

• Action Tip: Focus on team-building exercises and regular check-ins to ensure alignment and collective problem-solving during periods of stress or change.

Storms represent discomfort and danger, but they also bring growth and renewal. Similarly, moments of discomfort in leadership, such as giving honest feedback or navigating a crisis are often the catalyst for growth, both individually and as a team.

The key is to reframe challenges as opportunities. By running into the storm, leaders can model a growth mindset that inspires their teams to embrace change, innovate, and continuously improve.

• Action Tip: Celebrate lessons learned from challenges and acknowledge team members who demonstrate courage and adaptability during difficult times.

Buffalo don’t run towards the storm because they enjoy it, they do it because it’s the best way forward. In leadership, cultivating a culture of courage means helping your team see that confronting challenges, rather than avoiding them, leads to faster resolution and less stress.

A healthy leadership team doesn’t shy away from tough conversations or hard truths. They see these moments as opportunities to strengthen their organisation and each other.

• Action Tip: Lead by example. As an owner or leader, demonstrate courage by admitting mistakes, owning difficult decisions, and showing vulnerability.

The ultimate lesson from the buffalo is this: storms don’t last forever. By facing challenges with intention and unity, leadership teams not only survive but thrive. They emerge stronger, more aligned, and better prepared for the next storm.

A happy and healthy leadership team is not one that avoids adversity, it’s one that embraces it with the confidence that they’ll come out better on the other side.

So, as a leader, the next time you see a storm on the horizon, ask yourself; will you run with the herd, or will you lead like a buffalo and charge ahead?

The buffalo mindset is a powerful reminder that facing challenges head-on is the key to building a strong, unified leadership team. By adopting the tools and disciplines within the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) and embracing a culture of transparency, accountability, and courage, you can lead your organisation through any storm and come out stronger on the other side.

If you're ready to lead like the buffalo and take your leadership team to the next level, let’s connect.

Together, we can ensure your team thrives, no matter what challenges lie ahead.

Reyan Fernando - Professional EOS Implementer