Wolf Credo

by Del Goetz 1988

Respect The Elders

Teach the Young

Cooperate With The Pack

Play When You Can

Hunt When You Must

Rest In-Between

Share your affections

Voice your feelings

Leave your mark.

Sam Keller's TEC Blog

Teamwork - "The Wisdom of Wolves"

In his recent blog, Mac Anderson, founder of Simple Truths and Successories, Inc. comments on "The Wisdom of Wolves" by Twyman Towery. In his book, Towery describes a society where teamwork, loyalty and communication are the norm rather than the exception. As CEOs and business owners, we can learn from the wolves regarding team building as we strive for success in our businesses.

Here's an excerpt from his book:

"The attitude of the wolf can be summed up simply: it is a constant visualization of success."

The collective wisdom of wolves has been progressively programmed into their genetic makeup throughout the centuries. Wolves have mastered the technique of focusing their energies toward the activities that will lead to the accomplishment of their goals.

Wolves do not aimlessly run around their intended victims, yipping and yapping. They have a strategic plan and execute it through constant communication. When the moment of truth arrives, each understands his role and understands exactly what the pack expects of him.

The wolf does not depend on luck. The cohesion, teamwork and training of the pack determines whether the pack lives or dies.

There is a silly maxim in some organizations that everyone, to be a valuable member, must aspire to be the leader. This is personified by the misguided CEO who says he only hires people who say they want to take his job. Evidently, this is supposed to ensure that the person has ambition, courage, spunk, honesty, drive - whatever. In reality, it is simply a contrived situation, with the interviewee jumping through the boss's hoops. It sends warnings of competition and one-upmanship throughout the organization rather than signals of cooperation, teamwork and loyalty.

Everyone does not strive to be the leader in the wolf pack. Some are consummate hunters or caregivers or jokesters, but each seems to gravitate to the role he does best. This is not to say there are not challenges to authority, position and status - there are. But each wolf's role begins emerging from playtime as a pup and refines itself through the rest of its years. The wolf's attitude is always based upon the question, "What is best for the pack?" This is in marked contrast to us humans, who will often sabotage our organizations, families or businesses, if we do not get what we want.

Wolves are seldom truly threatened by other animals. By constantly engaging their senses and skills, they are practically unassailable. They are masters of planning for the moment of opportunity to present itself, and when it does, they are ready to act.

Because of training, preparation, planning, communication and a preference for action, the wolf's expectation is always to be victorious. While in actuality this is true only 10 percent of the time or less, the wolf's attitude is always that success will come-and it does."

Yin and Yang of Leadership

Confident Humility - TheYin and Yang of Leadership!

Confidence makes you believable;

Humility makes you approachable and teachable.

Confidence imparts wisdom and knowledge;

Humility inspires curiosity, growth and innovation.

Confidence is having an informed point of view;

Humility is the realization that you haven’t cornered the market on insight.

Confidence is the courage to question others and the status quo;

Humility is the courage to have your own ideas challenged and improved.

Confidence compels you to tell your story and be interesting;

Humility compels you to listen and be interested.

Confidence says, I can do this;

Humility says, "My way of doing it is not the only way."

Confidence is the ability to step out and try something risky;

Humility is the ability to be vulnerable and admit your mistakes.

Confidence is realizing a bold and audacious dream;

Humility is realizing that a bold and audacious dream requires collaboration!

Oh that our political system,organizations and homes will be filled with more leaders who lead with confidenthumility!

More on Yin and Yang!

In the West "yin and yang" is used to describe how polar opposites or seemingly contrary forces are interconnected and interdependent and only exist in relation to one another. In other words, they give strength to one another.

Yin and Yang are not opposing forces(dualities), but complementary opposites. Everything has both yin and yang aspects as light cannot exist without darkness and vice-versa. Either of these aspects may manifest more strongly and will ebb and flow over time.

A perception that yin and yang corresponds to evil and good, is not accurate. Yin and Yang more accurately symbolizes the idea of balance. In their balance or blur is true strength!

THINK and LEAD with BALANCE!