On the Sunny side having Merry times: Dolphin-like leadeship

Mythological, adorable, wise and so humanized ...

Dolphins

They've mesmerizes us from the very beginning of human history, already man (and woman) from the ancient history has found them touching and fascinating, mythological and almost equal to us. They've been main character of many believes; Like in Amazon the boto encantado - the enchanted dolphin, not to mention all Creek and Mediterranean stories of dolphin, even today we hear stories of single dolphins being close to beaches or harbours finding friends from people visiting or living close to them. Most of us adore them and their irresistible, almost like out of this world essence.

I've been fortunate to be privileged to work with them for several decades. I can't but adore them of how well they are created to be the very top animal of our seas. As I am referring to sharks as well on this text, I want to mention, I've also had a chance to work with them - and this text is not intended to ignore or dismiss them in any ways. I do adore them also cause of their dignity.

Mythological beliefs

Dolphins and their "soul landscape" is related to values like; fairness, trust, communication, respect, unity and collaboration, among others. Many of which are quite true and can be interpreted from their behaviour. I wouldn't like to crash anyone's rose-coloured image, if it is like previously described but I'd say they behave in many respects just like any other animal. It doesn't mean they wouldn't communicate and support unity in their pod. They do have their own value system and hierarchy within the family pod.

Is it fair and respectful? - most likely, in it's own way. It can also be a bit harsh in some areas.

Survival of an individual as well as of the family pod are true values, like with any animal, the energy economy for survival is one of the strongest innate instincts for any species. Dolphins may hunt together in co-operated unity but I wouldn't say they are actually sharing their food. They are playful, which is considered a sign of high intelligence, but if it comes to dominance in the pod - the interaction can be quite rough between each other. Fortunately with animals often times agonistic behaviours are adequate for settling down these kind of matters.

Like earlier mentioned, even nowadays we can read stories of friendly dolphins helping each other and getting in close friendly contact with humans. Some of these occasions have been known to be evolved because of beneficial aspects to those individuals, interaction which has made survival and foraging easier and favourable to these animals. These stories and true events are giving us perhaps a bit anthropomorphised and fairy tail like image of dolphins in our minds. All in all I still thinks these animals are mesmerizing in many ways.

Comparison to business world?

This bring me to comparison of dolphin essence or their being into business managing today. Times have changes form patriarchal business leadership into more associate or participatory leadership. Still even today we are influenced in expressions by anthropomorphised comparison to animal kingdom; like the TV-reality series; Shark Tank (in Finnish it is called Lion Cave). Also, at least, in the past leadership has been sometimes compared to Shark-like leadership. Or - maybe it's been more about the competition between companies providing similar products or services. In general business world has long been of the strongest being the most successful and prosperous - and that is quite understandable. Money rules the world. Actually quite the same as in animal kingdom - i.e. the energy efficiency of an individual (food & foraging). Could this kind of thinking be compared to sharks? Why not - if we think e.g. of the great white ones!

What is it then that makes one company more successful than the other?

As we know, there are multiple factor that are effecting it. Management and advertising strategies, innovative aspects and of course the product in itself etc. What I'd like to concentrate now is the dynamics and wellbeing of the company workers. With animals nowadays we talk more and more of animal welfare which is essential for any animal keeper to be aware of. In zoos, or any other "facility" keeping animals, it is also part of the managements plan and a cornerstone for prosperous animal keeping - if it involves visitors it is also a key element in well managed visitor experience and hence a reason to get the number of visitors either raising or staying in a sustainable level.

So - why not also in any business management with the company employers. Let's give some air under the wings of our imagination and loosen a bit the tight scientific goggles from the exact "soul landscape" of dolphins into a bit more romanticised vison of them: This would bring us into more Dolphin-like leadership. After all, I believe, the most valued capitol for any company are its employers - they are the "pod" who's survival and glorious well-being any employer should embrace. It is the simple power of positive reinforcement, which is so well known by any advanced animal trainer who is familiar with the operant conditioning theory and the principles discovered by the team led by B. F. Skinner.

Dolphins are fluent in their swimming

Dolphins have adapted their environment so well that they are fluent in any current. They can flow with the underwater natural currents or better yet, they are even capable of taking advance of the bow wave of ships. So - they are not like a 'shark in a water' but very much like a 'dolphin in a water'. This I'd like to think would prefer to flexible, innovative and visionary business management and plan of any company. A well managed business plan is beneficial to the company but also to any person working for these goals within the company. Further more; being fair, respectful and collaborative with the staff increases the motivation and commitment of the company workers. I believe it's not the status that counts but the respect of an individual. I've had a possibility to be in a leading position of a few small working groups during my career and what I found most rewarding to my colleagues, as well as to me, was when each individual was able to exceed in her or his own special expertise. It is not only respect but also support for professional self-esteem. This also serves the company most as the commitment to common goals is highest when people find the reason behind their labour to be also self-rewarding.

Dolphin-like leadership

In a bit unrealistic rose-coloured world we could make a comparison of this into more subtle leadership. If we think of the qualities mentioned at the beginning of this blog; fairness, trust, communication, respect, unity and collaboration. I believe anyone would appreciate those great values to any leader, not to forget committed, vision and supportive but also encouraging characteristics with one's own exemplary work.

We've seen a lot of 'shark-like' leadership in the past, which is kind of ok - but the downside may manifest as; burnout, brokenness, demanding tasks and eventually lowered or even loss of motivation. In the worst case companies may have lost valuable (silent) knowhow, as some key employees had decided to find other career paths. A 'dolphin-like' leadership will get similar results as any more harsh way of leadership but it is likely to be more motivating, more sustainable, more considering to employers & collaborative and perhaps it has better resilience in long run.

If you have a friend whose values qualities mentioned above and such characteristics as patience, perseverance, consistency, gentleness - yet firmness, creativity, healthy curiosity, joyfulness and a cheerful attitude. I believe this person would be highly valued by you. Why not value these kind of characteristics in any leadership as well.

Wouldn't it be time, to focus in the future more on Dolphin-like leadership than to the perhaps a bit old-fashioned Shark-like leadership. Shark-like leadership is familiar to many and it sure wins battles and competition. Just to let you know, in the nature, dolphins can beat up sharks by their collaboration and smartness. So, keeping this in mind Dolphin-like leadership surely can beat any competition and I would like to believe that the future of business management also lies in this type of leadership.

Sincerely

Kai Mattsson

Animal behaviourist

"Spend Merry Times with your animals."