Hello, I hope you all are working hard to improve every area of your life daily and enjoying the process and benefits of your efforts. If not you will, sooner then later.
Over the Christmas Holiday's I watched a fantastic documentary on the topic of leadership. I am sure the National Geographic Channel does not view it as such but I immediately did. If you know me, you understand my deep love and passion for lions. The thoughts of running off to Africa to work with and protect them teases my mind almost daily.
The documentary focused on a struggling pride of lions. It had been tremendously successful for generations but now had a sickly member, couldn't control their sub-adult members, lacked the proper mix of talent and skill to consistently provide enough food for them all, battled amongst themselves, splintered off into factions and more.
What happened? This pride lacked true leadership! While the adult females were experienced they became a victim of their own success. Their previous success was raising to "teenage years" 9 males and a female, this became a problem. One of the adult females became sick with Tuberculosis. She grew weaker and gradually, became less of a help in the hunts. The "teenagers" lacked the training and skill to be able to help in the hunts. This left the "organization" with a shortage of lions actually making a significant contribution and too many just along for the free lunch. Many of you may work in a similar situation. The "teenage" male lions were so overpowered by testosterone harassed and bullied other pride members. Peaceful and quite moments were hard to find. They were of the size and strength that the adult females were unable to discipline them. When the females did hunt successfully, the 9 sub-adult males would forcefully take more then their share and the rest of the family suffered.
This led to a split where several female adults and their young split off to go live in another part of the territory. In a smaller group, they would be required to kill less in order to provide for themselves and without those teenage bullies around to harass them and eat all the food the quality of their lives would improve rapidly. There was no shortage of prey just a shortage of capable workers and team players.
What is the root cause of this pride's troubles? Their leaders were uninterested. The two pride males and Fathers of the 10 teenagers and the younger cubs also controlled another territory bordering their own and had fathered younger cubs there. Since those cubs were younger they males remained there to protect them. In lion society, the adult males often help in hunting, provide protection, and discipline.
The males absence (anyone have a boss like this?) went on for a very long period of time. This pride was hungry, splitting up, had a sickly member, lacked harmony and cooperation. This pride was at the breaking point and the members could not take anymore and then they all cried out for help at once. All of the females so fed up roared repeatedly in unison for help and in the dark of night they were provided a response. The big males patrolling the border heard the calls and responded. It wasn't long before they magnificently emerged from the darkness. While one greeted the females providing compassion and listening to their problems (what a good leader) the other went straight for the trouble makers and confronted them directly. They reluctantly showed submission. The same night the pride hunted and with the assistance of the males were able to use enough team work, skill, and ability to kill a large bull. This provided more then enough food for them all.
The next morning, the sun rose to show the young lions laying down the hill on their best behavior while the pride males watched from on top of the hill. That is their organizational flow chart! Soon the young males had enough training to successfully be the difference makers in hunts, now they will able to contribute to the organization instead of just draining it's resources and being a obstacle to it's success.
Soon the males would need to chase off 3 of their sons. It happens, sometimes an employee just isn't a fit or needs to leave an organization to make something of themselves. Not all do but the opportunity is there. Later the remaining young males left to make a life for themselves.
The females who had splintered off rejoined the pride, new cubs were born, and the pride returned to their former glory. It went from the brink of splintering and members not being able to survive to thriving literally overnight! This only happened because they got their leaders (who were quality leaders) involved in the organization again and truly leading and doing the work that matters most.
Please watch this video for the film "The Last Lions". It is amazing! Be sure to see the movie when it is released but by simply watching this promotional video National Geographic will donate $10.00 per viewing, watch as often as you can because lions needs our help badly.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZ7SvK7w1xA
Photos courtesy of Monica Campbell Copyright 2010.
