We should Learn from Wolves, not Sheep
"If
humans could react to controversy or conflict in the same way wolves did, we
may see a higher incidence of co-operation and a lower incidence of poor
productivity due to hurt feelings or feelings of resentment." Jess Edberg,
International Wolf Center
As of late, we
have become a nation of sheep that follow others blindly. No longer do we think
for ourselves as a majority making the line blurred to some and very clear to
others. Exploring this behavior of sheep draws inferences that will take us to
the lessons learned from wild wolves who know how to survive under adverse
conditions whether they are nature’s elements or man’s instinct to kill them.
From the very
start, the biggest difference between sheep and wolves is the canine species
ability to adapt and develop traits that are productive in leadership, teamwork
cooperation and share or create clear communication as a pack rather than a
flock of misfit unorganized and loitering in the fields. This concept of
learning from wolves is not new for men. In fact, if you do a little bit of
research you will find strong suggestions that humans learned much of their own
vital skills to survive from wolf packs. Whether you want to admit it or not,
wolves are not just predatory in nature, they are also social in nature. They know
how to function as group better than most animals that live on this planet.
While sheep are
without direction or cause, wolves have an attitude that is always based on the
basic question that asks, “What is best for the pack?” similar to sheep, wolves
have learned to live around people but know how to detect dangers and risks.
Unlike sheep, they picked up human traits and adapted skills that allowed them
a higher survival rate than most wild animals. Walking with wild wolves can
teach us elements of leadership and team dynamics – fundamentally speaking wolves
demonstrate behaviors which illustrate confidence, social independence
[limited], assertiveness, team building and good at adapting and overcoming
challenges or barriers created to make it more difficult for them to survive in
the wild or whatever it is they need to do in order to create a situation that
is best to their advantage.
Highly intelligent,
these creatures are so adaptable, their dynamics are constantly changing to
meet the need of the hunt or existence. One trait is the adaptability to change
the course of action when their memory relates that it didn’t work out the last
time so they avoid doing it the same way to see if this is how they can get
away with the act rather than get caught. Sheep, on the other hand, do the same routine
over and over and get killed doing the same thing without adapting or changing
their habits or survival skills. The similarities between wolves and human can
be surprisingly close and more so than our relationship with sheep.
Sheep don’t
re-learn things very well. They don’t work as a team and blindly follow wherever
the lead takes them. Sheep don’t distribute the load or burdens like wolves do;
they do things on their own and drift away from any herd responsibilities. Most
sheep don’t have leaders, they just follow. Wolves don’t inspire to be a
leader, they have a leader but share the burdens of the leader giving the lead
pack wolf a break when needed.
Wolf packs rely on
what’s best for the pack. Even at an early age, wolf pups learn their roles in
their own social circle of the pack. Their flexibility of demands and roles
provided to cope and function as a pack depends on every individual wolf to do
its part of contributions made to benefit the entire pack and not just one.
Certainly, I am
not suggestion we develop a pack mentality but what we should promote is the
individual responsibilities needed to create success or survival. It is a
matter of mutual benefit and respect that drives this attitude, not
self-centered or lack of interest in the balance of the herd as sheep often
demonstrate. Contrasting from sheep, every wolf has his own voice. Every wolf respects
the voice of every other wolf.
Wolves thrive on
the team spirit – they allow each member to participate and promote positive
peer relationships that can lead to higher achievements and greater
productivity within the pack. One can see how this bonds or creates a tighter
relationship among the pack and in this respect, create a higher desire to work
hard and play hard to boost their commitment to the pack.
Perseverance,
focus and purpose thrive the pack’s will to live and survive. Hunting is best
when done as a team. This is because as a pack, their use their collective
talents and skills to overcome the prey as they collaboratively and
methodically plan and stalk the hunt. Learning from their mistakes, they become
more efficient with every outing. Every pack has a strategy and a goal – and all
members of the pack know what this goal is before they go out on the hunt. There
are rare cases of disorganization and failures are rare as their strategies are
based on what they know what works and what doesn’t that makes the wolf
strategy coherent and without controversy.
Lastly, wolf packs
teach loyalty to the pack and constant training. Every pup is taught from the
moment they are old enough to walk and are mentored by all in the pack who take
their responsibility to train the pups voluntarily and instinctively. They know
these pups are part of their future and their ability to survive the dangers. When
the pack loses an elder pack member, their role is quickly filled because of the
preparation put into sharing the knowledge.
Much like human
organizations, “"giving people the opportunity and tools to improve
themselves builds the type of loyalty that is an asset of inestimable worth.” If
people would behave like wolves and use every means of communication at their
disposal, they would improve their performance and knowledge by seeing and
listening to everyone around them closely. The wolf’s power to observe is so
finely honed in to be keen enough to detect subtle changes in each other’s
behaviors as well as the pack's.
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