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From time immemorial, dogs have been known to be man's best friends. In addition to boosting your morale, increasing productivity, and releasing your stress, these furry friends have much more to offer and lessons to teach, but only if you are observant enough to learn. Dogs are some of the best mentors in leadership skills, and the amazing thing about them is that they lead with actions.
1. Learn not to Bear Grudges
One of the best qualities that dogs possess is their ability to forgive and forget. Dogs do not hold on to feelings of resentment and hatred for people who hurt them in the past. If, for instance, you scold your dog for doing something wrong, like chewing on the couch, some minutes later, they will have forgotten about the scolding and will be happily wagging their tails at you. Learning not to bear grudges as a leader will help you relate well with your employees or fellow workmates, and this, to some extent, will determine your effectiveness as a leader.
2. Focus on the Present
Many times, leaders are engrossed in planning and strategising the future or trying to learn from past mistakes that they forget to stay in the present and appreciate the small wins that are happening now. Unlike humans, dogs live in the here and now. They do not bother themselves much with thinking about the past or worrying about how the future will unfold. They take each day as it comes and enjoys the pleasures it bears along. Great leaders know that the journey is the reward, and taking time to celebrate your employees' small wins is a crucial part of achieving even bigger goals.
3. Learn to get your hands dirty
If you are a pet owner, you know how much those pups love getting their paws dirty while playing in the mud, the sand, or scratching on the ground. As irritating as this might be to the pet owner who gets to clean them after that, it is a great lesson that leaders should learn. If you are looking to tackle a bold, audacious goal as a leader, you must be ready to jump into work and get your hands dirty. It is not about the ego but achieving the goal in the end.
4. Be Loyal
Who else to teach us loyalty than our dogs? The loyalty of pups never wavers. Your furry best friends will always be by your side in the good and the bad. As a leader, you know that success isn't easy, neither is the road to it. In your journey to success, you will have to work with people you can count it even through the rough patches. As the saying goes, "trust is earned," and the best way to be with a team that is loyal to you is by being loyal to them first.
5. Take Time to Rest
Dogs are known to sleep about 10 to 12 hours a day. They do not take pride in being up and down, and they recognize the importance of rest and recharging. Leaders can learn a lot from this. Much as humans don't need as many hours to rest, getting enough sleep and taking some time off to rest can help a lot with the leaders' productivity, mental and physical health.
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Assistance Dogs Australia. Founded in 1996, Assistance Dogs Australia trains and places dogs that specialise in support for people with mobility needs, autism or post-traumatic stress disorder.
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