Leadership and Teamwork – What Can We Learn From the Wolves

Great leaders inspire their team members to collaborate as a successful team.

What is Leadership? According to the inspirational quote by John C. Maxwell, a leader knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.  In the animal kingdom, a wolf leader is well-known for his inspiring and self-sacrificing leadership style.

What Do Wolves Teach Us About Leadership and Teamwork?

1. Taking care of the old and sick teammates  In a wolf pack, the first row is formed by the old or sick and the leader is usually not the one that stands in the front.  If the old and sick are not positioned in the front, they would be left behind and putting them in danger. Especially if entering the ambush, they would be easily sacrificed. Hence, other young and healthy members need to look after and care for the old and sick by ensuring they are “in-front” by looking at their needs and guiding them for the group to function better as a team.   2. Enable the strongest in the team to achieve its maximum function The wolf pack can be divided into five (5) separate positions.  The weakest would be in the front, followed by the strongest, then followed by the "ordinary ones" , and the leaders would be last. The two team leaders fill positions second and fourth, respectively, as a result.  This is to make sure that the old, sick, and ordinary ones are protected and led. In a team, the strongest ones are the ones that can contribute more to the team.  The leader needs to identify them, utilize their strength and ensure that they take care of their teammates who are weaker than them.   3. The leader’s role: Ensuring no one is left behind The wolves' pack leaders are known as the "Alphas", they are typically made up of one male and one female who produce offspring.  Once the pack has grown up, they will eventually form their own packs and leave the group. The alpha wolf is the leader of the team who stays at the back to ensure that no one is left behind.  The leader is ready to run in any direction to protect his team.

What does it mean to lead from the back?

5 things to learn from the wolf leader

1.You do not need to be the strongest The leaders may not necessarily need to be the strongest players. Those defined as the strongest are usually the key hunters. In leadership, collaborating with people who are stronger than you is important to achieve success.   2. Place the correct person in the correct position  The key hunters don't choose which animal to kill even if they are the strongest in the team, the leaders will still hold the decision-making in giving signals to the hunters.  Leaders must have a clear vision to direct their team by putting them in the appropriate positions. Recognizing and appreciating each person's abilities and unique qualities will be essential if the team hopes to function as a unit and eventually become stronger.   3. Give functional and clear directions instead of standing in the front  Staying at the back and guiding the team alone indeed isn’t an easier task than standing in front leading the direction from the leader’s angle. However, standing at the back gives the leader a clearer picture of how the team is operating as a whole.  It gives a clearer idea to identify who are the ones that need help in the team and assign the strongest ones to assist.   The leaders will guide, nurture and help instead of just leading.  4. Ensuring team member’s well-being and gaining loyalty in return  The elders have a place right in front of the team to get protection from the strongest, as seen in the wolf pack.  This implies respectfulness in the wolf pack. Elders could be weak physically and slow in execution, but they sure have accumulated valuable experiences that the younger team members should learn from. Animals like wolves are passionately devoted to their pack.  It is clear that they are all working well together as a team, and a sense of belongingness will easily be developed. People are extremely loyal and devoted to a team when they feel included, valued, and encouraged to be who they are.   5. True leaders are not aggressive A true leader who stands in the back like the wolves is usually not aggressive or loud in decisions.  This doesn’t mean that this type of leader is not confident or lacks self-assurance. On the contrary, the wolf leader knows exactly what he needs to do and what’s best for his team.  This enables the leader to stay calm and steady. A great champion doesn’t need to be aggressively proving that he is the champion if he already is.  Hence, the alpha wolf is emotionally secure as he treats the team as his own family.  

How can we apply leadership lessons from a wolf pack? 

We need each other to capitalize on our strengths within the Group By using this context and relating it to businesses, this is how an organization should incorporate into their working culture and AYP is working towards achieving this. 1.Digital & Marketing Department The main function of this department is standing in the front line to ensure that our products and services are well recognized and benefit the search users who are searching for a solution to their business like you! Our efforts involve doing online research to understand the market needs and the target keywords that internet users are searching for in order to deliver our HR software as a service (HR SaaS) to address your current business needs. For instance, are you thinking of hiring talents globally without having your own entity? AYP Global Pay is a single digital platform that offers both Professional Employer Organization (PEO) and Employer of Record (EOR) solutions. Payroll management is made simpler with us.  You pay us in one currency while we pay all of your staff from different countries in their local currencies!   2. Sales and growth department This department serves as the “hunter” for our group, they are very important to ensure that we have “enough food” by generating revenue returns to our company. In AYP, customers are highly prioritized. The sales team will pitch the product and services to potential customers and ensure that the solutions meet their business needs, mitigate business risk, and are useful to the HR team. After the deal is closed, the customer relationship team and operation team will always be available to support your needs and queries.  It is our top priority to ensure your business continues to grow and expand by collaborating with us.   3. Finance Department Next, comes the finance team, they are part of an organization that manages its money, they are the “keeper” in the team. The finance or account executives ensure that billing is done correctly and revenue is received on time.  They also keep track of budget utilization and spending.  With their efforts, the management team will know the financial health of the company from time to time and ensure that the company is prospering.   4. The Leaders – Management Department The management team are the leaders, they are the strategic thinkers, thinking what is the next quarter's move and steering the company towards the right path. They are the vision of our company, the “Alphas” that stay at the back to ensure no one is left behind. They ensure team building and lifting are constantly happening, and guide the team to the right path.   Every department and every employee and even the bosses in the organization are interlinked. It’s best to work together than apart and communication is the key!  

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