What my dogs teach me about humans and how that relates to professional development?
We all know that dogs are a wo/man’s best friend. They are loyal and protective of those they love. I have chosen to live with a pack of 8 dogs. And it amazes me how much their life, their attributes and their social structure teaches me about my human colleagues, or, to be more precise, about leadership. Here, I am putting down a few things I have observed and learnt about dogs’ behaviour in a pack, and how that relates to organisational leadership.
The audacious and the most powerful – ‘The Leader’
A dog pack has a leader. The leader is shrewd, constantly alert and watchful of imminent danger; danger with respect to other dogs and their pack. The leader makes sure that nothing enters the territory without the pack’s consent and if it does, it confronts and fights the danger, to warn them and push them to back off. Scouting the territory – often alone. Isn’t that something!
Their dominance extends to within the pack as well. The hierarchy of a pack is not built in stone. There is always competition, always a pack member trying to dominate the pack leader and replace it. The leader knows better to defend itself and its position.
It demonstrates dominance – It does what it takes to dominate the offender, by chasing them, by marginalising them, aggressing them. Sound familiar? The leader (at least mine) also enjoys privileges – be it a spending the night separated from the rest of the pack or the extra pat. It is a dangerous and often a lonely role.
I see so many shades of a leader in this one – fearless, observant, powerful, dominant, responsible – qualities that hardly co-exist in real life. But when I apply a few permutations and combinations, I am reminded of so many of my colleagues and acquaintances.
The least powerful – The runt
In my pack, there are 3 of these.
One of them has embodied the weakness so much that he hardly ever joins pack activity, he stays aside, his tail clenched between his hind legs and sheepishly moves away as soon as danger is in the air. He knows how to get his share of attention by brown nosing the humans around him – he is everybody’s darling and so compensates being disliked by his buddies.
The second weak member is one with two physical disabilities. In a completely wild pack, she would not have survived. But we made sure she did. She is regularly discriminated and aggressed. She is not aware of her different looks and it seems that she compensates for them by showing extreme agility and speed. She is an excellent tracker. She mostly fends attacks off but regularly gets bitten by her mates. Over time this has led to her being extremely cautious and alert. She knows if there is a snake within the grounds no matter where it is.
The third weak dog is the biggest and most beautiful dog of the pack. Unfortunately, size and beauty have never been able to compensate being lowly gifted and that is what he is. He is beautiful but clumsy, he can bark for hours at an unknown object. He feels no pain and even if hurt just goes on. He is a gentle giant with a brain the size of a peanut!
These dogs demonstrate survival tactics and adaptability. Less ambitious than other members of the group but knowing how to brush up and play on their strengths to survive.
Why am I so fascinated by these dogs?
Well, have they reminded you of any humans while reading? I can see so many analogies. Some people will say that I am looking at my dogs completely through human eyes and that this is all my interpretation. But I am convinced they are teaching me something.
At the very least, they are teaching me and reminding me of the very basics and the very essentials of leadership; of survival and evolution; of love and competition.
Look forward to hearing your thoughts, observations and inferences.
