Leadership Unleashed 2021 (#137)
I adopted Samantha, a rescue retriever/boxer/hound dog mix in May 2020. Samantha is now 3 years old and is a great companion. In fact, she has also been selected as employee of the month at TFCG a record 13 months in a row. But it doesn’t seem to have gone to her head.
I did a previous post (#62) on leadership skills I learned working with Samantha and some of you have asked for another update. Here are four additional leadership skills that Samantha helped me improve over the last nine months.
Patience — It continues to be a long road to build Samantha’s confidence. Like many rescue dogs she was not well treated before I got her. For every day that we take a step forward, there is a day where we take a step backwards. Yet, as I look back to 2020 she has improved so much over the year. For example, she has been able to make friends with other dogs over the last several months, gets excited to go in the car, and will sit and heel on command.
When working with your group or an individual, remember it is a long road to improving their leadership skills or behaviors. Take the long approach. And remember to look back every six months or so to recognize and acknowledge how much that person or group has developed.
Mindfulness — Like many of you, I find it hard to be in the present. I am always thinking about work, or my daughter, or what’s for dinner. Pretty soon, I’m all worked up and it is hard to notice what is going on in the world.
Samantha, however, lives in the moment. "I am walking with my wonderful human," she seems to be thinking. “I am nervous about that car. Look, grass! Grass smells good.” Samantha is a true master of the art of mindfulness, and she inspires me to fully take in each moment too.
Our daily walks together help keep me in the present, as well. Remember to find a way to stay in the present.
Pace Yourself — Samantha still sleeps a lot. Samantha understands the importance of recharging her batteries and keeping her energy level high for the important events like walks, dinner, and greeting visitors to the house.
The Stare — In 2006, Amy Sutherland, a gifted and funny writer, wrote an article in the New York Times entitled “What Shamu Taught Me About a Happy Marriage.” Amy had been working on a book about exotic animal trainers and discovered that the trainers reward behavior they like and ignore behavior they don’t. Having some trouble with her marriage, Amy decided to use this principle with Scott, her husband. Surprisingly, it worked. I took this idea and have used it with Samantha. When she isn’t doing something that I want her to do (like not coming when I call) I stare at her with my arms crossed until she changes her behavior. I’m not as good as Amy, however — I’d say the stare only works 50 percent of the time.
Go on the offense in 2021 and leverage the leadership lessons your dog and Samantha provide you every day to enhance your leadership skills with your team.