The elegance of elephants: quiet leadership and collective health

In today’s episode of INSTINCT we explore the world of elephants. These elegant creatures, with their complex social structures and behaviours, offer a treasure trove of insights for aspiring leaders and team builders.

Despite being the largest land mammals on earth, you can hardly hear them move — follow in their footsteps and learn how to master the art of 'quiet' leadership by prioritizing long-term success, team wellbeing, and cooperative leadership.

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In today’s episode, we discuss:

• How elephants embrace experience, and learn from their elders
• Diverse roles within elephant herds, including the matriarch leader
• The strong bonds between herd members, and how this creates a shared consciousness
• The remarkable memory of elephants
• How elephants impart wisdom to younger generations
• What makes elephants excellent communicators
• Future-proofing to ensure survival
• How social intelligence affects team performance

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Referenced:

• Amboseli Trust for Elephants https://www.elephanttrust.org/research/#1552999697822-571c1d66-ca63
• The research on mirror self-recognition (evidence that elephants may have some self-awareness): https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.0608062103
• The story of male elephants killing 40 rhinos, and what happened when elder males were introduced into the park: https://www.nature.com/articles/35044191
• An synthesis on what we know about PTSD in elephants (especially after a traumatic experience like a matriarch dying): https://www.cbc.ca/natureofthings/features/new-research-shows-that-elephants-and-other-animals-can-suffer-from-ptsd

— Where to find Kari Sulenes:

• Kari's company: https://joinpilea.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karisulenes

— Where to find Natalie Rothfels:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nrothfels
• Website: https://natalierothfels.com/

— Production and distribution by: ⁠⁠https://www.supermix.io