ALPHA ATHLETES - The Sphinx Magazine
ALPHA ATHLETES - The Sphinx Magazine
ALPHA ATHLETES - The Sphinx Magazine
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members to be supportive of other<br />
team members and help them in their<br />
difficulties. Since teams are required<br />
for success in all endeavors, we must<br />
develop the skills needed, as the geese<br />
do, to be effective in our environment.<br />
Another animal from which we<br />
can learn is the white-tailed deer—<br />
the number one big game mammal in<br />
the United States. White-tailed deer<br />
spend a lot of time maintaining awareness<br />
of their surroundings. Because<br />
they are color-blind, they focus on the<br />
slightest movement. “For them, environmental<br />
awareness is critical for<br />
survival and is a life-or-death issue. We<br />
should be just as diligent in observing<br />
our environment….,” Brother<br />
Boswell says (p. l46).<br />
Brother Boswell had a foreign<br />
assignment in which he had to change<br />
company financial reporting practices.<br />
In the assignment, he had to recognize<br />
cultural differences and adjust to them.<br />
“Aggressive patience” is what we<br />
learn from crocodiles. <strong>The</strong>y lie<br />
motionless for most of the day; however,<br />
when it becomes necessary to<br />
pursue a prey, they can be aggressive.<br />
So humans must learn to maintain a<br />
level of aggressiveness on some specific<br />
issues and positive patience on<br />
other issues. We should be aggressive<br />
in advocating ourselves but also be<br />
patient and recognize that success<br />
may not occur as quickly as one<br />
would like.<br />
Brother Boswell cites the case<br />
of an employee who thought he<br />
deserved a promotion. However,<br />
Brother Boswell thought the<br />
employee was not ready. <strong>The</strong><br />
employee disagreed and quit the<br />
position on the spot. <strong>The</strong> employee<br />
lacked the patience to wait and lost<br />
out. Had he practiced more<br />
patience, he could have eventually<br />
obtained the promotion.<br />
<strong>The</strong>re are many opportunities<br />
for aggression and patience. One<br />
has to be discerning to know when<br />
to use one or the other. “Crocodiles<br />
have perfected the practice of<br />
knowing when to be aggressive and<br />
when to be patient” (p. l56).<br />
Communication is important and<br />
whales are cited as superb communicators.<br />
<strong>The</strong>ir repertoire is complex<br />
and their range covers as many as<br />
seven octaves. Whales also have distinct<br />
dialects and their sounds can be<br />
detected for many miles.<br />
Often communication is thought<br />
of as verbal skills only; however, developing<br />
listening skills and mastering<br />
nonverbal actions are also necessary.<br />
Communication is absolutely essential<br />
for individual success. Many individuals<br />
get so involved in their daily activities<br />
that they forget about the importance<br />
of upward, across and downward<br />
communication. We must communicate<br />
across all levels of an organization,<br />
including upper management,<br />
peers and subordinates.<br />
Non-verbal communication is also<br />
essential. Facial expressions, body<br />
position, and attentiveness all communicate<br />
as directly as words. Brother<br />
Boswell recommends that a minimum<br />
of l8-to-20 inches in personal space<br />
around the entire body of the communication<br />
partner be observed.<br />
Focusing on verbal skills alone<br />
will not ensure effective communication.<br />
Like whales, we must employ<br />
communication skills that are relevant<br />
to our environment.<br />
It has been said that dogs are<br />
“man’s best friend”. Dogs love, return<br />
love freely and openly display affection,<br />
joy, and disappointment. Whether they<br />
have integrity seems debatable; however,<br />
they do seem to show many qualities<br />
observed in humans, according to<br />
Brother Boswell.<br />
In an organizational environment<br />
as well as in personal life, integrity is<br />
important. It is imperative that we<br />
maintain strong ethical behavior and<br />
personal integrity at all costs.<br />
Brother Boswell recalls an incidence<br />
in which the company he<br />
worked for was going to be sold. <strong>The</strong><br />
employees were naturally upset.<br />
However, the situation changed and<br />
the company was not sold. Later a<br />
clandestine offer was made to sell the<br />
company. Since Brother Boswell had<br />
told the employees the company<br />
would not be sold, he could not go<br />
along with the clandestine offer. He<br />
remained loyal to what he had told the<br />
employees. He says, “<strong>The</strong> point to<br />
remember is that maintaining your<br />
personal integrity is essential for success<br />
in your personal and professional<br />
career” (p. l85).<br />
Alpha wolves exhibit significant<br />
qualities of leadership over the wolf<br />
pack. Leadership is important and<br />
there are many styles of leadership. A<br />
leader must know his leadership<br />
style. Among the styles of leadership<br />
are these characteristics: being<br />
demanding, respected, moral and<br />
principled. While effective leaders<br />
have different styles, they share similar<br />
qualities. <strong>The</strong>se leaders are: (1)<br />
communicators; (2) listeners; (3)<br />
visionaries; (4) motivators; (5) team<br />
players; (6) mountain viewers; (7)<br />
self starters; (8) competent; (9)<br />
focused; (10) empathetic; (11)<br />
responsible; (12) results oriented;<br />
(13) strong in character; (14) positive;<br />
(15) adaptable/flexible; and<br />
(16) committed.<br />
BOOK REVIEW<br />
Concentrating only in developing<br />
effective leadership styles can be<br />
self-defeating. Instead, a manager or<br />
leader must incorporate appropriate<br />
leadership style into his persona<br />
and focus on individual strengths.<br />
This is the approach alpha wolves<br />
practice.<br />
Prairie dogs are social rodents<br />
that live in well-organized towns<br />
consisting of mounds and earthen<br />
fortifications. Yet, they also maintain<br />
a balanced social life. If we<br />
take a lesson from prairie dogs,<br />
we must ensure that all of our time<br />
is not spent in pursuing work<br />
goals. We should include time for<br />
friends, social activities, extra-curricular<br />
activities, exercise, travel,<br />
and rest.<br />
Like prairie dogs, we should<br />
nourish our relationships with others.<br />
It is important to maintain<br />
healthy lifestyles while pursuing our<br />
career goals. We should also<br />
include the time to share with others<br />
some of what we have been<br />
given. We must maintain balance in<br />
our lives just as prairie dogs maintain<br />
balance in their lives. This balance<br />
enhances relationships, provides<br />
for personal needs, improves<br />
safety, and enables survival of the<br />
group. If humans do the same, performance<br />
and quality of life will be<br />
enhanced.<br />
Brother Boswell has studied 14<br />
animals and draws parallels with the<br />
lives of persons in the business<br />
world. <strong>The</strong> book, Success By<br />
Instinct, is a guide for persons seeking<br />
advice on how to succeed. <strong>The</strong><br />
principles that the author enunciates<br />
will prove to be beneficial rules for<br />
success in the business world and<br />
personal living.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Sphinx</strong>: www.APA1906.net Fall • Winter 2008<br />
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