Wisdom from the Wild: The Nine Unbreakable Laws of Leadership from the Animal Kingdom

by Julie C. Henry

Overview

Take a walk on the wild side with fascinating and compelling leadership lessons from the animal kingdom.

Nature is the perfect teacher for the challenging and very personal concept of leadership. And no one knows this better than former zoo and aquarium senior leader turned leadership consultant Julie C. Henry. 
     Wisdom from the Wild shows you—whether you’re a new or experienced leader—how to learn from and be inspired by the wildlife and wild places all around you. This fun, new approach to leadership presents nine “Unbreakable Laws” from the animal kingdom. These true, fundamental guidelines with concrete examples from wildlife can steer your work and decisions as a leader. 
Creatures that might seem unusual or even unexpected in a book about leadership—such as naked mole rats, spiders, and even sea cucumbers—will teach you how to 
               *deal with change,
               *more effectively lead teams, 
               *build your resilience muscle as a leader.
     Reinforcing these essential lessons from the wild, Julie C. Henry presents a myriad of business case studies and immediately actionable tools to strengthen your leadership skills. So join this extraordinary dive into the natural world as you’ve never seen it before, as you uncover your leadership prowess among the animals.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781626348868
Publisher:	Greenleaf Book Group Press
Publication date:	01/04/2022
Pages:	256
Sales rank:	1,111,280
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Julie C. Henry is an outdoor explorer and animal lover at heart who is continually learning and sharing leadership lessons inspired by wildlife and wild places.

A former zoo and aquarium senior leader, Julie is president of Finish Line Leadership, a training and consulting firm, and has worked with over fifty-five organizations across corporate, nonprofit, government, association, and community sectors. She holds Bachelor of Science degrees in both zoology and education (Miami University of Ohio), a Master of Arts in communication (University of South Florida), a Postgraduate Diploma in outdoor education (University of Otago), an Executive Program Certificate in Sustainable Business Leadership (Green Mountain College), and has completed graduate coursework in winter ecology in Grand Teton National Park (Teton Science School). She was selected as a Fellow of the Toyota TogetherGreen program of the National Audubon Society, chosen for the Disney’s Animal Kingdom/World Wildlife Fund Biodiversity Leadership Program, and a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar to New Zealand.

Julie has presented to over one million people across thirty-two states and six countries, in on-site and online settings ranging from auditoriums and ballrooms to boats, beaches, forests, theaters, boardrooms, and even underwater while feeding sharks and moray eels. She has yet to see a wolf in the wild, snorkel with whale sharks, or visit Antarctica, but she continues to dream about those moments!

She lives in Sarasota, Florida, with her two children, whom she lovingly describes as her “zoo animal” and her “wild animal” due each one’s natural inclination toward life.

Table of Contents

Foreword xix

Preface xxi

Author's Note xxix

Introduction 1

Part 1 Change 11

Unbreakable Law #1 Change Is Constant, but It Doesn't Have to Be Chaos (It All Comes Down to Roots) 15

Unbreakable Law #2 If You're Distracted by Fear, You'll Miss the Opportunity (Spiders, Anyone?) 33

Unbreakable Law #3 When You Can't See the Finish Line, Let Purpose Be Your Guide (Sea Turtles for the Win!) 51

Part 2 Teamwork 73

Unbreakable Law #4 There Is No One-Size-Fits-All Approach to Teamwork (Right, Naked Mole Rats?) 77

Unbreakable Law #5 Surround Yourself with People Who Are Not Like You (Termite, Meet Giraffe-Giraffe, Meet Termite) 97

Unbreakable Law #6 A Team Without a Solid Foundation Is Really Just a Group (Shark! Eel! Lobster! Coral?) 113

Part 3 Resilience 133

Unbreakable Law #7 Resilience Is Instinct in Action (Just Watch the … Pelicans) 139

Unbreakable Law #8 You Are Wired Not Just to Survive, but to Thrive (Take It from Here, Sea Cucumbers) 161

Unbreakable Law #9 Even Cheetahs Slow Down (I'm Looking at You, Leaders) 175

Conclusion 195

Acknowledgments 207

Notes 211

Index 215

About the Author 221

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“This terrific book is full of insightful and inspiring lessons about leadership from the world’s greatest teacher—nature.”
—Philippe Cousteau, founder, EarthEcho International

“Julie deftly weaves fascinating facts from the natural world with stories of her own experience to bring to life leadership lessons that resonate and inspire. Her advice on challenges we all face in our professional and personal lives is smart, fun, and easy to apply. You don’t need to be an animal expert to learn from their wild strategies.”
—Cynthia Vernon, chief operating officer, Monterey Bay Aquarium

“I love this book—the concept, the approach, Julie’s writing. I hope we all agree that our world is in a challenging place. And I know Julie and I concur that for people and animals to thrive together on this planet, great leadership is required. Julie understands that great leadership is not easy. But she understands the wondrous world of animals and opens a window into this world in ways that provoke awe, laughter, warmth, and curiosity—and successfully illustrate her leadership tenets. I have struggled with whether to include one last thought. Julie and I have a sad, shared experience—we both lost our husbands in the not-too-distant past. Julie’s tenacity, hope, and overall heart shine through this book. Please read this book. You will learn way cool stuff about animals and leadership. You will laugh and you may be verklempt. And hopefully it will encourage us all to act on behalf of our astonishing, magical, crazy world.”
—Jackie Ogden, PhD, principal and founder, Natural Leadership; retired, vice president of animals, science and environment, Walt Disney parks and resorts

“Julie Henry has led a remarkable career, spanning the globe over the last quarter century in the name of the conservation of nature, animal research, and leadership training. In her terrific new book, Wisdom from the Wild: The Nine Unbreakable Laws of Leadership from the Animal Kingdom, Henry builds on the immutable laws of nature and animal behavior, demonstrating in clear and enjoyable prose that leaders have much to learn from our wild cousins. As Shakespeare noted, ‘The earth has music for those who listen.’ Julie Henry has listened and learned from nature all her life and now applies the rules of the wild to the leadership challenges we all face in our work and daily lives. Her contagious energy is an inspiration, and I know you will find this book valuable.”
—Thane Maynard, executive director, Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden

“Julie links people lessons to lessons from the animal kingdom, which makes the reading more entertaining. While reading the questions that Julie asks of the reader, my answers gave me different strategies or methods that I can use in my work. I am happy to say I learned some tips and techniques I can use immediately in my role as a leader, along with fun information about some animals.”
—Kim Wylie, CPA, director of accounting, international consumer products corporation

“Every leadership book you've read already talks about trust, and we all know how important it is to establish trust when leading change. But why is it that in the midst of a crisis we seem to trust everything but our very own instincts? This book explains why, which is why you need this book!”
—Christian Greer, president and CEO, Michigan Science Center

“If you love nature and want to improve as a leader, this is the book for you! Julie combines fascinating facts from the wild along with her personal experiences to create an inspiring read. I recommend this book if you want to learn from an authentic leader who never quits and has great passion for what she does.”
—Karen Bolumen, international franchise owner/operator

“As a retired naval officer, I found Wisdom from the Wild the most engaging book on ‘change’—both from an organizational perspective and as an individual leader—that I have read in years. Julie’s correlations of change between something physical and something logistical are spot on. An easy read with concrete steps on how best to manage change within any organization, I highly recommend this book!” 
—Gregg Hudak

“In Julie Henry’s book, Wisdom from the Wild: The Nine Unbreakable Laws of Leadership from the Animal Kingdom, come key lessons in leadership for any type of organization. These lessons are creatively gleaned from nature’s animals ranging from the innocuous mole rat to the elegant cheetah to the gutsy sea cucumber. With each animal, Julie showcases what leaders can glean from these vastly different organisms in terms of their leadership style, improving their leadership qualities, and informing their leadership practices. Through the lenses of change, teamwork, and resilience, Julie does a superb job of describing why these lenses are vital to a healthy ecosystem in leadership. This book is not your typical leadership book, but one that provides powerful metaphors to examine our leadership practices. It is a timely, creative book that is both personal and applicable to all organizations, ranging from nonprofit to for-profit. This book will linger with you long after you complete it and reflect on its lessons.”
—Ann Haley MacKenzie, associate professor, Miami University (OH), and Fulbright specialist

“A career of exploring the animal world has given Julie a unique and introspective perspective of the leadership lessons we can learn from wildlife. The instinctual nature of animals she describes pairs brilliantly with our drive to succeed and lead in our own way.  I love how this book reminds us that our leadership capacity is a part of our inherent animal nature.”
—Bill Street, senior vice president of Indianapolis Zoo and director of the Global Center for Species Survival

“Wisdom from the Wild is a true page-turner for those wanting to hone their leadership skills. Julie does a great job of simplifying the truly important aspects of leadership and how to make them a reality in your professional setting. I highly recommend this book as a relevant and ‘go-to’ book for anyone in a leadership role.” 
—Heather Kasten, president/CEO for the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce

“A lifelong passion for animals, nature, and our zoological backgrounds connected the author and me decades ago. I can attest to at least some of Julie’s animal experiences—who wouldn’t want to hold a tarantula? So how could I not be curious about Wisdom from the Wild? What I found are fascinating and unexpected connections between Julie’s chosen species and leadership lessons, carefully crafted and communicated through stories from Julie’s own life experiences blended with her expertise. Recognizing traits in some unusual plants and animals that make for a thriving planet—and applicable to us as individuals, team members, and leaders—is ingenious—and helpful—to anyone with a thirst to learn more about nature and themselves.”
—Julie Scardina, president/CEO, Mission Wildlife 

“Wisdom from the Wild: The Nine Unbreakable Laws of Leadership from the Animal Kingdom is destined to take its rightful place among other essential leadership references such as Good to Great, Forces for Good, and Start with Why. This book presents the fundamentals of leadership using unexpected role models from the natural world—both plants and animals—as sage guides, experienced mentors, and inspirational teachers, encouraging us to be the leaders we are meant to be. Henry tackles universal leadership challenges—leading through change, leading teams, and resilient leadership—offering guidance from unlikely but evolutionarily tested sources, from the steady, sturdy coastal mangrove forest to the tenacious and improbably loveable naked mole rat. This is not your ordinary leadership how-to. Henry’s approach is a masterful combination of familiar leadership challenges presented alongside surprising examples from Mother Nature herself. Ranging from the seemingly mundane to the undeniably mysterious, Henry offers unforgettable examples from the natural world, meant to spur meaningful shifts in attitude and behavior to take your performance and impact as a leader to the next level. Whether your work as a leader is centered in nature or far from it, this book is written for you.”
—Rachel Bergren, executive director, Get Outdoors Nevada

“There has never been a better time to follow Julie on a journey through the wild to change the way you view the world. Julie’s advice and insights show leaders how to re-connect with nature to inspire employees and drive innovation in the workplace. Julie’s passion for unusual creatures and vibrant outdoor spaces is embedded in her DNA, and these leadership lessons are an absolute gift to be treasured and shared as you hike through life’s challenges and opportunities.” 
—Cathy Chambers, senior corporate leader

“This story of a woman’s personal journey, from shy teenager to confident nature lover, educator, and business trainer, draws metaphors from the natural world in a way that is both entertaining and enlightening. Her love of animals and the examples they provide for the human experience shine through in this engaging tutorial in leadership training. Julie Henry bares her soul and shows how all our challenges, as humans living in an artificial world of our own making, can be met if we just draw from the beautifully evolved world of Mother Nature."
—Bob Hueter, PhD, Mote Marine Laboratory & OCEARCH

“This love letter to nature offers compelling lessons about how to lead through change through the most charismatic of teachers. With all of us trying to make sense of the world that is moving so fast, with change as a constant, it feels like a gift to consider what we can learn from a naked mole rat or a mangrove. We hear we should turn to nature to rest and recharge. Julie Henry shows we can also turn to it to inspire and teach. Thank you, Julie, for sharing the wisdom nature has to offer all leaders on our journey.” 
—Kristen Grimm, president, Spitfire Strategies

“At a time when protecting the planet requires bold leadership, Julie brings us to nature to find inspiration and guidance to navigate the challenges of the leadership landscape. Through powerful insights and uniquely personal stories from her experiences as a leader in the conservation field, Julie takes readers on a journey to connect with the wild world while exploring critical lessons to adapt to change, maximize impact through teamwork, and build resilience. Leaders of all types will leave with a roadmap for growth and a desire to get back out into nature!”
—Sean Russell, founder and director, Youth Ocean Conservation Summit

“Wisdom from the Wild: The Nine Unbreakable Laws of Leadership from the Animal Kingdom is unique. It effortlessly weaves personal and animal stories together into leadership strategies and lessons. I found myself following stories about turtles, spiders, and a marathon, wondering how it would relate back to leadership and then receiving a satisfying ‘aha moment’ at the end. Ms. Henry also uses questions at the end of the sections to ensure the reader uses the lessons learned for their own reflection and personal accountability. I highly recommend this book.”
—Charlisa A Shelly, SHRM CP, chief people officer, Kansas City Zoo

“Who would have thought that mangroves and giant spiders could teach us about leadership? Author Julie Henry takes a creative and personal journey into leadership using the natural world as her guide. From managing change to building teams, she shares new insights about leadership drawn from the natural world, which always has something to teach us.”
—Judy Braus, executive director, North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE)

“We can learn a lot from nature, and Wisdom from the Wild proves it. Julie Henry takes examples from nature and draws lessons for the reader. Using analogies based on the natural world, she connects her experience and knowledge of leadership in ways that are both instructive and memorable. Long after you have put the book down, the lessons taught will stay with you. Anyone who loves nature and aspires to be a better leader will benefit from reading Wisdom from the Wild.”
—Jeffery Vanek, director of human resources, Utah’s Hogle Zoo