How wolves teach us about leadership and teamwork
Colorado Parks and Wildlife released five gray wolves in Colorado Dec.2023. Pictured is wolf 2302-O. Photo Credit: Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
On one of our camping adventures, in the midst of a thick morning fog, my family and I got ready early one morning, with the promise of encountering bears once again. We set out as the sun had barely begun to paint the sky and came across a group of people on top of a hill. There, like silent guardians, they watched through powerful binoculars at something we could not see. Intrigued, we joined them, our hearts pounding with anticipation. This time it was not bears, but rather a pack of wolves.
I have always been captivated by the wonders of nature, and my recent adventures in different National Parks have led me to confirm even more that the natural world holds invaluable lessons. This time I want to share some of those lessons that can help us improve our leadership and teamwork; lessons that, although they may seem obvious, we often do not practice.
Lately, one particular fascination of mine has been with wolves, especially in light of their recent reintroduction to Colorado in December 2023, following public approval in 2020. These majestic creatures have long been misunderstood, and portrayed as villainous predators in classic tales. However, my recent summer experiences observing —alongside wolf experts— the Junction Butte and Wapiti Lake packs in Yellowstone National Park have led me to question those ideas and helped me understand some of the true essence of wolf behavior.
Christine Peterson in a National Geographic article (May 2024), helps dispel common myths about wolves. Contrary to the notion of wolves as aggressive predators targeting humans, gray wolves generally avoid human contact and are rarely a threat. They exhibit complex social behavior, living in cohesive packs with a clear hierarchical structure.
Learning from wolves, we can gain valuable insights into loyalty, cooperation, and communication that are essential for effective leadership in the human realm.
Loyalty: wolf leaders exemplify unwavering loyalty to their pack, viewing it as a survival strategy rather than just an emotional bond. As human leaders, inspiring loyalty within our teams involves reciprocity and unwavering support. When team members know they have a leader who has their back, it fosters a sense of purpose and belonging crucial for overcoming challenges together.
Cooperation: collaboration is inherent in the wolf pack's success, with each member playing a specific role in hunting and caring for the pups. Similarly, effective teamwork in human settings necessitates recognizing individual strengths and fostering an environment where everyone's contributions are valued. Sharing responsibilities and supporting one another leads to collective success, mirroring the cooperative nature of wolves.
Communication: this is the lifeblood of wolf packs, enabling them to coordinate hunts and maintain social order. Similarly, human leaders must prioritize clear and constant communication to ensure alignment towards shared goals. Actively listening to team members, adapting communication methods, and fostering dialogue are key components of effective leadership, drawing parallels to the communication strategies of wolves.
The reintroduction of wolves in Colorado, which seeks to emulate the success achieved in Yellowstone, represents a transformative initiative to restore ecological balance in an area that was once wolf territory. The challenges are not minor -as is the case of coexistence with ranchers-, and while the impact remains to be seen, it will certainly be significant.
Without a doubt, my family and I will forever remember our first encounter with wolves. Witnessing their beautiful howls and observing their intricate social dynamics has provided me with insights into leadership and teamwork that transcend species boundaries.
Whether we are leading a team or managing a project, the principles of loyalty, cooperation, and communication applied by wolves serve as powerful guides to improving our leadership skills.
Just as a wolf leader in its pack provides support, collaborates, and communicates effectively, a successful leader is one who uses these principles to build a resilient and united team, paving the way to achieve collective goals and foster prosperous environments.
Are you applying the wisdom of wolves to your leadership style?
