Wild Leadership Lessons

During my safari in Africa, I was struck by the intricate balance of survival in the wild. I couldn't help but draw parallels to the dynamics of leadership.?

Teamwork:

Animals work together to be successful. Zebras and wildebeests are good teammates and hang out with each other for protection. Zebras have excellent eyesight, which helps them spot predators in the distance, and wildebeests have a great sense of hearing, which allows them to hear predators from afar. They have formed an ally to help warn them of danger and enhance their chances of survival. Together, with combined assets and tapping into each other's talents, they go from barely surviving to thriving. We all have different strengths and weaknesses. Our people lean into their strengths, allowing our team's unique gifts to shine. By focusing on how to use their best qualities, we all benefit from a stellar work product. Together, we can accomplish so much more than on our own.?

Listening:

Witnessing animals searching for food on safari reminded me that listening is a powerful tool. One morning, we stayed with a few lions. The lionesses are typically responsible for providing food for the male lions and their cubs. We watched them move slowly, listen intently, and patiently wait for the right moment to hunt. The time and dedication it takes to know the exact right moment to find food for animals in the wild gave me insight. If you do not listen with patience to others, you will never know when the right moment presents itself. Listening will always tell you more than speaking or talking over someone.?

Flexibility:

This same morning, the lions saw an injured cape buffalo and considered going after it, but they soon realized that too many were protecting the buffalo. They are very opportunistic yet realistic. The pride spent all morning making that decision and ultimately moved along. Flexibility and adaptability when leading a team or supporting a client are significant assets. Assessing your people and their needs, being realistic, and calmly pivoting away from your original thought or plan opens up new possibilities and minimizes mistakes. Adaptability helps you navigate challenges and work with the flow instead of against it.?

Patterns:

Animals have routines and patterns, as humans have. Towards the end of our safari, we shared with our guide that we had not seen hyenas and were hoping to have an encounter. Our guide said, "Of course, we will see them." He did not tell us he knew of their daily routines and the location of their den. The cubs would sleep during the day and have a babysitter watch the den while they slept. In the mornings and right before sunset, the cubs would come out to play and eat if their mothers had brought them food. Our guide got an easy ask from us! Like leadership, patterns need to be looked at both figuratively and literally. For instance, changes in a team member's positive attitude, creativity, or problem-solving abilities should not be criticized but instead noticed and looked into. By connecting with people personally and listening with empathy, we can become part of the solution, possibly helping them through challenging situations at home or work. This is where the magic occurs. These are opportunities to support another human being until they can get back in the grove or help to co-create a new pattern.?

As leaders, we want to show up as our best selves. We can practice mindfulness when listening by taking a breath and pausing with gratitude–gratitude for this person trusting you, gratitude for the moment, gratitude for being part of something bigger.? We can learn to listen to hear and feel instead of listening to respond. We can be flexible with ourselves and others. We can be open to all ideas and expand our thinking by saying, "Yes, tell me more." By looking at our patterns, we can elevate how we operate by realizing that a pattern may no longer be useful or productive. With an attitude of willingness, we can adapt to changes and challenges in new ways. There are lessons all around us. Leadership gives us an endless supply of lessons and a chance to evolve.?

If you want to elevate your leadership skills or look at your team through a new lens, I would love to support you. For information on executive coaching, please visit https://www.zendoway.com/coaching.html For interactive sessions for your team, visit https://www.actualizeconsulting.com/interactive-sessions.html or contact me here on LinkedIn.??And special thanks to Sandy Stowers Kirsten Stowers Bos Chad Wekelo, CPA, CFA for making this such an amazing trip!