I believe humans can learn a lot if they only invested some time observing the interactions of other species of the animal kingdom.
If there’s a dog at home, then you have an in-house Guru who can show you some tricks that will benefit your career and even your relationships.
I’m not talking about chasing your tail (or even an imaginary one), barking at everyone or digging holes and hoarding prized possessions, which guarantee being stuck in a rut but more concrete activities.
I’ve seen these furry-faced companions interact both as pack animals when we had 5 miniature brown dachshunds as well as my current canine pal, Miss Coco in action.
That’s when I discovered how authentic leaders are chosen not on the basis of seniority or authority but because the dog is able to ascertain who is the strongest, wisest and worthy of being the leader.
They literally look at the options in front of them and evaluate them based on different qualities and dare I say actually apply the concept of 5 Power Bases of Leadership.
Dogs are pack animals and choose their own Leader
I discovered that when I was stuck in bed with a broken leg and had all the time in the world to observe what the family lovingly called The Dachshund Five.
I saw how Goldie became the leader. By chance she was also the eldest. If she barked and ran in a direction, the other 4 followed in a line.
If there was a squabble between any of them, Goldie would actually go and intervene.
She was a genuine leader who led by example and even a role model for the other 4 members of her family.
When the cast came off my leg and I was learning to balance myself without a crutch, I had 5 little ones follow me ready to break my fall even if I broke their backs by falling on them.
Fortunately dogs consider humans to be superior so we don’t become members of the pack but can become leaders – provided we demonstrate our worth. In fact, dogs are known to assess the humans in the house and select one.
It seems I was the Chosen One and my parents would tell me about how Goldie ruled the home during the day and then retire once I got back from work.
I can only hope I lived up to the expectations of my beloved pets, especially Goldie.
Dogs really have high Emotional Intelligence
Even if you indulged me while I reminisced over The Dachshund Five, my assertion of canines having high EI or EQ is not baseless.
There’s an entire page in Wikipedia on Dog Intelligence. Studies have proven that just as humans experience a reduction in stress and anxiety levels by patting a dog for 15 minutes, when humans pet shelter dogs for 15 minutes or more, the dog becomes less anxious.
Our furry friends experience feelings of jealousy and studies have shown that a pet will try to solve the problem and get their pet parent’s attention back on them!
These wise animals are socially aware and can tell the difference in our emotional expressions of sad and happy human faces.
I know this for a fact as I shared my story with Bruno in my post Even Today, the Spirit of Yudhishthira’s Dog Lives On, where I recount how a small puppy kept me going as I faced my first redundancy in the post-Gulf War period.
If ever I saw the quality of empathy on display, this was it!
Miss Coco, the current Pup in Command in my home demonstrates empathy to outsiders too when we are on our walks and can teach my coaching clients a trick or two about networking!
That cute face with a wag-filled tail has made us the first friends any new resident makes when they come to live in our complex and more people remember her birthday and inquire about her if I am ever downstairs alone!
When I introduce fellow residents in the complex to each other, I actually add ‘X is also a friend of Miss Coco’s’ and suddenly both people seem to be more open to knowing each other!
Apparently they’ve passed the Know, Like and Trust criterion set by my dog!
Apply Dog Wisdom to positively impact your Career Prospect Now
Before you think only my canine companions have all the intelligence in the world, let me point out that every dog parent I’ve ever known has similar stories about their beloved furry family member.
That’s why I’m dedicating this post to the Canine Community and their Human Honorary Members with 7 pieces of Career Advice that dogs have to offer.
I’m not suggesting that you don’t consider hiring a Career or Executive Coach, but these tips are a good place to start.
Parting Words on career advice from dogs
I hope you’ve enjoyed the short but relevant presentation the dogs (and guest cats) made.
As the human writing this blog post, I have 3 more tips that I picked up as the Leader of the Pack:
- Follow the rules. How does a dog know which objects are okay to chew? The logic behind some rules may elude you, but unless it’s visibly unfair or breaking a law, it’s best to go along with them to preserve order in the workplace. If you can’t, find another job.
- Persistence is a big part of success. Stay focused and keep on the trail no matter what obstacles arise. (Hint: If you get blocked from digging under the fence, maybe you can persuade someone to open the gate for you.)
- Contribute to the pack. Above all, think beyond your own interests to participate as a team player. Take satisfaction in working together to achieve common goals and improve everyone’s well-being. You can accomplish much more working with others than you ever could on your own. Be a team player!
If you feel you need more guidance, then download Karmic Ally Coaching’s 5 Ways to stay Confident in a Competitive Workplace here or by clicking below.
She is driven, always sticks to timelines and is conscious of the individual needs and personalities of her students.
Working with Vatsala has been one of the best investments in my career. Her personalized guidance, actionable strategies, and unwavering support helped me gain clarity when I was in a career slump.
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