When you see the gentle giants trudging at their own peaceful pace across the Savannah Grasslands, you pause. Silhouetted against the vast backdrop of endless greens, you see the herd slowly making its way across the bushes. Once in a while, the matriarch stops in her tracks, bringing down the branch of a tree. The rest of the herd follows suit. Its meal-time. Swaying their massive trunks, the leaves of the branches disappear into the mouth of the bush’s largest mammals, their prized tusks catching the spark of the sun.
Slow and wise, giant and sharp, elephants are possibly one of the most intelligent creatures living on our planet. They are as perceptive to danger as they are susceptible to warmth and protection. They exhibit team work like no other. Patience and supreme confidence are their primal force of survival. It is said that elephants never forget, a key tool for them to survive all odds of the jungle life.
To even attempt to portray characters of elephants, it simply must refer to one of my best books read after we started living in Nairobi…Lawrence Anthony’s ‘The Elephant Whisperer’. After watching the mighty beings up, close in some of our unforgettable African safaris, this book threw open the absolutely magnificent strength of their character, the resolve to achieve what’s best for their family, the resolute perseverance to strive through maximum odds and survive. The real story of the beautiful, fiercely possessive and protective leader of the pack and the matriarch Nana and how she led her herd through safety and eventually found a place of warmth and love is simply incredible. A tale of true leadership and of not fearing the odds. A real story of facing adversity in the face and showing grit and perseverance to emerge as clear winners. A true inspiring tale of leading her family through many challenges. Not everyone in Nana’s herd is docile and obedient. While Nana shows calm and wisdom befitting a true leader, her warrior sister Frankie is a firebrand who protests and is sensitive to the slightest provocation. Yes, we learn about a team with members having different temperaments, yet with all having a common goal.
It is unbelievable, the way Lawrence accepts in his Thula Thula Conservancy a herd of rogue elephants and he is their only chance to survive. What’s amazing is how Nana and her herd teach him many life-lessons, communicate with him, how they “exchange niceties”, how they save him on more than one occasion goes on to teach us many so many lessons. Trust, the other most valuable trait in any leader is to be learnt from elephants. The herd doesn’t trust Lawrence at the start and this true story is a painstaking account of trust building between human and a rogue herd. A soft tone, a communication narrating security and love eventually wins Nana’s complete trust on Lawrence. Another vital lesson for a leader…to give enough chances and try to rebuild lost-trust. An attitude which makes not just great leaders but propels the team to higher success and happiness.
Nana’s intuition takes epic proportions where she not only guides her herd but humans too to safety during floods. Effective communication is certainly not the prerogative of humans alone, as says Lawrence. Imagine the sensitivity of this awesome herd when their hero Lawrence passed away due a heart attack and Nana’s herd actually mourned for days! Possibly the key attribute of a good leader and a happy team is empathy and a high emotional quotient.
What these mammoth giants treading Mother Earth teach us are a handful of lessons in survival and happiness. Trustworthy, faithful, great leadership, perseverance, excellent communication and sensitivity are all one can hope to find in that ‘perfect leader’. Or is it too much to expect from mere humans!?
