Gentle and graceful. Dainty steps with the finesse of a ballet dancer. Movements so elegant, you would stop and stare at these magnificent creatures all day long. Towering over the Savannah Grasslands and over predators and preys alike, are these beautiful giraffes with eyes which would mesmerize you with their benign soft look.
Fight for territory of dominance isn’t anything new, be it in the corridors of power – corporate, social or otherwise – or in the wilderness. Male dominance has typically reigned hero in any talk of power, be it to a hot seat or as the leader of the pack or herd. Dominance can often take ugly forms. Decency in competition is something we feel important enough to talk about, given its rarity. The sheer and oft-seen display of bad blood in politics is not unknown to us.
Our first visit to Nairobi National Park threw up a scene, unseen thus far, by us. And by a fair stretch of imagination, it may be named a show of sheer elegance, like watching two dancers sway gracefully amidst the bushes, exhibiting their finesse and grace as much as their strength, in lithe fluid movements. We watched these tall creatures spellbound, assuming this to be a play to attract for mating. But, no! Lo and behold, this was a fight amongst male giraffes for dominance! What captured my attention and remains to this day is the calm in battle. One waits for one’s opponent to begin his moves before he counters with a befitting head-butt mustering as much beauty in the move as is possible. This was one treat for the eyes!
Decency in competition had been observed in many a brand war. While increasingly we witness hostility to be the other name for competition, we see a slip in visible decency ever so often. Notwithstanding the oft-seen political disputes crudely in the open, we also do witness great show of team spirit and camaraderie in sports. Respect towards one’s able opponent, giving your competition a chance at fair play while you plan your next move with calm is what strategy and a good game of chess is all about, isn’t it!
But do not mistake the gentleness of giraffes as their weakness. These megaherbivores are not to be taken lightly when challenged. When engaged in intense bouts, they are capable of landing sledgehammer blows to their opponents in power play. This act of whipping their necks around each other is called ‘necking’. The longer the neck, the more are the chances of winning a fight. Some call this a ‘dance of dominance’, often playful. But once such fights get serious, necking too can become fierce.
Endowed with better skills, more favourable situations, a brand is likely to win. Competition exists each moment of our lives, especially for those who are in any form of business or are competing in any field like sports, performing arts etc. Strong ethical brands or individuals, exhibiting healthy relations amongst each other, not only strengthens the market, ensuring better growth prospects of all concerned, but also results in knowledge enhancement. Dirty battles, public outrage, character assassination are things we have become quite familiar with and not just in politics. While corporates invest a lot of time and money in training, why do we not consider investing a fair percentage on teaching about essentials of decent competitive relations?
Decency is a way of life, including during a fight for dominance for giraffes. But when cornered or when the need arises, this very fight can get deadly. A simple learning for us. Live in harmony accepting few odds, few differences of opinions and a few roadblocks. Bring out your differences with your opposition in a decent manner, giving the other an opportunity to respond. And if and when the need to win arises, do what it takes with determination and zeal. With ‘respect’ from your competition, comes ‘respect’ from the market and we all can nurture this respect by reflecting on our attitude during our fight for dominance. These megaherbivores have shown us a splendid way!
