Learning Leadership from Dogs

Learning Leadership from Dogs

What can Bulldogs, Dachshunds, Komondors, Pekingese and Otterhounds (among other dogs) teach us about effective leadership?

By Aditya Simha

The book uses the context and world of dogs to aid the reader's understanding of leadership. The reader will learn about leadership concepts and also about several breeds of dogs, across the world, including breeds such as the Bulldog, Dachshund, German Shepherd, Mastiff and Otterhound, among others.

EPUB, 148 Pages

ISBN:9781839990298

February 2025

£25.00, $35.00

PDF, 148 Pages

ISBN:9781839990304

February 2025

£25.00, $35.00

  • About This Book
  • Reviews
  • Author Information
  • Series
  • Table of Contents
  • Links
  • Podcasts

About This Book

This book provides the reader with tips and insights on how they can become better leaders themselves. These insights and tips will be explained by utilizing the context of dogs, with examples featuring various dog breeds used throughout the book. This will emphasize what we can learn from these various dogs’ traits and characteristics. Some of the topics that the book will cover include concepts like ‘resilience’, ‘courage’, ‘patience’, ‘(in)dependence’, ‘respect’, ‘kindness’, ‘authenticity’ and ‘trust’. The various chapters in this book will provide the reader with insight on why it is important for human leaders to embody these various concepts and qualities.

For instance, a concept like ‘resilience’ is of paramount importance for leaders, because not every single plan or decision will be successful, but it is important to stay the course, as a Bloodhound would on the trail of an escaped convict. The book adroitly mixes findings and insights from numerous scholarly sources on leadership and juxtaposes them with examples featuring various dog breed traits and characteristics. The book will be useful for improving one’s knowledge on how to be a better leader, and will also improve one’s knowledge about the numerous varieties and kinds of dog breeds. The book is easy to comprehend and the scholarly concepts in it are explained without any complicated jargon.

Reviews

I never knew that I am an Otterhound! “Learning Leadership from Dogs” by Aditya Simha explores leadership qualities by drawing parallels between canine behavior and effective leadership. The book delves into themes such as courage, communication, authenticity, kindness, respect, gratitude, trust, intelligence, joy, and resilience, using various dog breeds to exemplify these traits. —Terrance (Terry) Rowinski, President, CDS Global, Inc., USA.

A very engaging read. The author draws references between the inherent canine characteristics of various breeds of dogs and the necessary traits for leaders and their teams. These analogies make complex management ideas relatable and engaging while also learning more about a number of different breeds. —Dave Wittwer, retired CEO of TDS Telecom.

“Having enjoyed Dr. Simha’s other work on leadership and ethics, I was excited to read “Learning Leadership from Dogs.” The way that Dr. Simha breaks down leadership concepts into insightful themes based on dog breeds is nothing short of clever. I enjoyed it immensely.” —Dr. Michael J. Urick; Dean, Alex G. McKenna School of Business, Economics, and Government at Saint Vincent College, Latrobe, USA.

“Dr. Simha has written a leadership book you probably didn’t know you needed! This book is full of interesting dog breed facts that really make leadership concepts engaging and understandable. This is a fun way to learn about leadership!” —Dr. Gordon B. Schmidt (Author: Leaders Assemble! Leadership in the MCU), Professor of Management, University of Louisiana Monroe, USA.

“It is an engaging and delightful journey into the world of diverse dog breeds and the nuances of leadership. This book offers an enjoyable and accessible read. It seamlessly blends education with entertainment, making it a truly pleasurable experience for readers of all ages.” —Dr. Fariss Mousa, Zane D. Showker Professor of Entrepreneurship, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, USA.

“In this delightfully written and well-researched book, Dr. Aditya Simha has combined his enormous knowledge of various dog breeds with his scholarly insights on the subject of leadership, explaining critical leadership qualities that dogs embody and leaders can learn from. The result is a surprisingly well-written book that can benefit anyone, a fresh graduate or a seasoned professional.” —Dr. Anish Dave, Professor of English at Georgia Southwestern State University in Americus, GA, USA.

“This book offers a lighthearted and enjoyable exploration of leadership concepts, using the world of dogs as a relatable framework to introduce research and theories that both novice and seasoned leaders can use in their leadership journeys. Readers will easily recognize their favorite dog breeds, and relate to the lessons that we can learn from their unique traits and characteristics.”—Lazarina Topuzova, Department of Communication and Organizational Leadership, School of Communication and Media, Robert Morris University, USA.

“This book is written with a loving respect for the readers! As a former Marine Corps Dog Handler, I love the connection between dogs and leadership fundamentals Dr. Simha makes. This book has leadership, fun, and dogs all in one. Great Read!”—Sgt. Ross Gundlach, MBA, USMC/Army, 2008–2017, USA.

“Learning Leadership from Dogs is a truly brilliant book. Dr. Simha has written an invaluable guidebook for how good and effective leaders operate, all through the delightful lens of some of the most unique dog breeds on earth. A rare book that captures the qualities of exemplary leadership through parallels to (hu)man’s best friend.”—Jenna J. Homburg, MBA, CPDT-KA, Canine Behaviorist, Humane Society of the United States and Explosive Detection Dog Handler, AMK9, USA.

“Much has been written about leadership, but Dr. Simha hit the mark! Dogs are our best friends and constant companions, yet we underestimate what we can learn from them. Simha has taken complex traits and characteristics that leaders should demonstrate and made them simple by showing how dogs embody them.”—Brian T. Baker, President and CEO of Sentry Equipment Corp, USA.

Most of us observe dogs that misbehave, jump up on you uninvited, bark obnoxiously, and in general, just being dogs. It is hard to imagine that anyone could learn anything about leadership from a dog. And yet, when you see a well-trained disciplined dog that excels in the skill and work it has been trained for, it is imaginable. Dr. Simha does a beautiful job of matching breeds of dogs, and their character traits, to desirable character traits of strong leaders. He then shows how we can learn from what those dogs bring to the table. I was especially intrigued by the dogs he chose that show courage. I quote Dr. Simha as he summarizes the chapter. “This second chapter discussed courage, and I described and discussed several dog breeds who are renowned across the world for their courage and determination. I trust the reader will have a bit more understanding of both these various dogs, as well as internalize the importance of courage, in a leadership context.” I would strongly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in leadership and the characteristics of a good leader. If you’re just a dog lover, I think you would enjoy reading this book too! —Bob Wierenga, Double Dutch Acres, USA

Author Information

Aditya Simha is a Professor of Management at the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater.

Series

No series for this title.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments;  1. Introduction to the Book;  2. Embody the Bulldog Spirit/Courage;  3. (Collie)ty Communication;  4. Otterly (O)authenticity;  5. Kingly Kindness;  6. Rottie Respect;  7. Great/er (Dane or Swiss) Gratitude;  8. Terrier’izing Trust;  9. Inu Intelligence; 10. Pe(e)king(ese) at Joie de vivre; 11. Ridge(ing) Back to Resilience; 12. Setter(ing) Down to a Conclusion ; Index

Links

No Podcasts for this title.
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