In What Ways Does a True Leader Resemble a Wolf Leader, and Doesn’t?

A pack of wolves' travel pattern varies depending on terrain conditions and season. The more difficult both are, the more effective and efficient the travel pattern is, and no terrain or season is harsher than traversing a mountain during winter.

The pack travels in a single line because, by doing so, the wolf at the very front breaks through the deep snow, making it easier for the rest of the pack to follow and save energy. You may be thinking that such an arduous task is for the leader.?

Because trailblazing through snow is highly exhausting, such a task is shared by two or more wolves who are big, but are also the old ones. By doing so, they trailblaze and set the pace; by doing so, they are not left behind. They take turns to avoid getting too exhausted. The leader is not among them.

Behind the trailblazers are young adult wolves who are strong and ready to protect the pack against predators. None of them is the leader. Next, come the cub wolves and most of the females. They need more protection and use less energy to travel, thanks to the snow being already compacted by the wolves ahead of them. Behind the cubs and females are other young adult wolves who, just like the ones in front of the cubs and females, are also ready to protect the pack.

At the very end of the caravan, there’s one wolf following at a distance. That’s the leader. Such a position allows it to focus on the surroundings and the pack. It will enable the leader to spot predators or other hazards and to alert the pack when such a need arises.

Which wolves should act when a dangerous situation arises depends on the case. The cubs and females would always be kept from harm’s way, and the leader would coordinate the pack’s actions as needed.

The Wolf Leader and the True Leader

Leaders at organizations may not be the ones in the trenches designing, developing, delivering, and maintaining products and services. Still, they are the ones who should always have a clear understanding of everything that is going on to be ready to satisfy the needs of their organization and to take action at a moment’s notice. Some decision-makers only know what they see in a quarterly or monthly status report and are completely detached from the current reality of their organization. That renders them ineffective when variation that requires their attention emerges. The long reaction time becomes costly to the organization and may compromise success.

A True Leader is knowledgeable and aware of the state of the organization at all times. This doesn’t mean a True Leader has to micro-manage or be in command-and-control mode. Like the wolf leader, a True Leader allows for autonomy and trusts those in the organization to make the right decisions. Intervention from the True Leader comes when something emerges that others don’t see or when they bring something to the True Leader's attention. The True Leader brings harmony, balance, and collaboration to the organization. Does so by example and helps members of the organization improve their behavior and actions when the need to do so arises. The decision-maker who doesn’t do those things is not a True Leader; that person is just a boss.

True leaders differ from wolf leaders in that a wolf leader is an alpha wolf who gained its status through imposition and fear. The wolf leader is the strongest and fiercest. The wolf leader eats first, and the rest of the pack eats the leftovers.

A boss is an alpha human who keeps their status by being the fiercest, imposing, dominating, having a harsh attitude, and putting the project's success above all else, including the employee's well-being. A boss is reactive. A boss gets a nice office far from where his organization sits and gets all sorts of niceties and privileges. The rest of the organization can’t even get remotely close to them. The organization follows the boss because of fear of consequences. Members of the organization look forward to the opportunity to quit as soon as they can find something better.

A True Leader may or may not be an alpha human. The True Leader doesn’t seek any special privileges. Instead, the True Leader focuses on the well-being of the organization's members and the organization’s success —in that order. This doesn’t mean that the organization and its projects become less critical. It means that people are given the right level of importance. A True Leader motivates and encourages them, becoming the tide that elevates all ships. A true leader is proactive. The true leader eats last. The organization’s members follow the leader because they respect and see the leader as a role model. Under such an environment, projects are much more likely to be successful. Members of an organization under a True Leader typically aren’t looking for a better job. Some may stay at the organization even after getting job offers with better pay if the new job would put them under a boss.

What does it take for a boss to become a True Leader? Modesty and vulnerability. That doesn’t mean to display weakness. Vulnerability is a strength because it requires courage and acknowledgment of the truth about ourselves. It is about showing who we are. Modesty and vulnerability help us build character and integrity.