every successful leader shares common traits. I call them the
Big 5 Leadership Traits and they are inspired by the most
fascinating animals that I had the privilege of encountering in
the wild.
The Wisdom of the Pause
The leaders of elephant herds can often be seen doing
nothing, sometimes even looking frozen in space. To human
eyes, it is unclear as to what is taking place, but if you pay
attention, you can gain great leadership advice.
In those regular moments of stillness, the lead elephant
uses her senses to the fullest. She becomes aware of the
position and movement of the group and its surroundings
and gets in touch with each individual group member on an
energetic level. She even gets in touch with herself and uses
her senses in a highly concentrated way. The ability to pause
and reflect on yourself and your team is a powerful leadership
tool that many leaders don’t realize they are missing.
With stress and distractions plaguing modern leaders, it’s
hard to slow down, much less come to a complete pause.
Unfortunately, because we have lost the ability to learn and
practice this important skill, many leaders have lost the
feeling for others and connection to their people.
A great way to practice an elephant’s pause and observe
technique is to refrain from any activity when you enter a
meeting with your team or a client. Focus on the others in
the room and pay attention to what your senses tell you. Feel
the energy in the room. Is the energy tense? Are people
talking and smiling or quiet and reserved? By taking the time
to actually notice these things, you will realize a whole lot
about the room and the people in it. Once you observe and
learn more about your team or customer, you’ll be able to
make more informed decisions that benefit all parties.
The Art of Teamwork
Lions, the so-called kings of the bush, are not only a universal
symbol for power and strength, they are also masters in an
area that every manager depends on: teamwork. Lions would
be nothing without their pride, so they’ve become masters of
teamwork on all levels.
Territories are held by several male lions in so-called coali-
tions. Working as a team makes it easier for them to fight
against intruders, control larger territories, dispossess older
lions or secure female territories—the basis for their survival.
Female teamwork is best displayed during hunting and is
clearly defined by the individual strengths of the team
member. Anyone who has the chance to witness the breath-
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taking, intelligent and highly efficient attacks of a female lion
will never again forget it. For lions, teamwork secures long-
term survival and success.
When bringing this example into your workplace, ask
yourself: how can the teamwork in my company be elevated?
Does it leave enough room for creativity? Are there new allies
on the outside I should build coalitions with in order to
protect my territory?
The Power of Targeting
Another fascinating and impressive quality often observed in
the bush is the outstanding ability of animals to focus on
their prey. Be it a lion, leopard, cheetah or bateleur eagle, their
Plehwe working as a ranger in south africa, where she learned to connect
our world with the wild.