Strategies of the Serengeti

In his review he writes:

“In the 1980s we went in search of ‘excellence’. Today, many of the companies heralded as excellent have floundered or died. In the 1990s we looked for businesses which were ‘built to last’. Many have not lasted. By contrast, the ecosystem of the African Serengeti has thrived for thousands, perhaps tens of thousands, of years. It has lasted. The animals of these great grass plains are supremely adapted for excellence in their highly competitive environment. Their strategies have outlived the fads and fashions of business schools. They have survived the recessions of drought and the dynamism of their competitive environment. Their strategies work – they have stood the test of time, having been in operation for more years than any of our companies or organisations.

Some animals use speed, others use stealth. Some take advantage of great vision, some use co-ordination, and others use raw power. The key to strategic success in the Serengeti is using the right strategy at the right time. Each animal has something to teach us in business.”

He concludes:

“If businesses get their strategies wrong, the executives merely update their CVs and go job hunting. If academics get their strategies wrong, they just write another paper. If the animals of the Serengeti get their strategies wrong, they are extinct. For a few millennia, their track record beats any business, university or consultancy. As in many aspects of business, perhaps the best advice is to heed the advice of the experts – the ones with a long track record of success.”

When we researched leadership to create our Learning To Lead Programs we spent a great deal of time looking at what nature has to teach us, and we incorporated its timeless wisdom into what we share. It is part of the reason why we are different, and it explains quite simply what we do best.