Cichlid fish – the leader who knows how to overpower weakness

In the competitive environment one must evolve and craft the success strategy carefully and wisely. Only when one learns the art of finding a different and uncommon way for success instead of worrying about the limitations and competitions, become successful. This management approach is inevitable for those who feel that they are ‘weak and timid’.

The Cichlid fishes appear to know the above management strategy well. Cichlid fishes are not that strong when compared to other fishes and hence cannot fight the enemies. So protecting the eggs from the predators is difficult for them. Further, most aquatic animals steal the egg of other animals in general and eat them as food. The Cichlid knows that. In the above circumstances, the Cichlid fishes instead of laying eggs in water, learned to jump out of water and lays eggs on the leaves of water plants that are grown in the periphery of the pond or lake or river. They constantly splash water on to the leaves to keep the eggs wet and moist. The young fishes hatch out of the egg and drops down to water.

It is very strange. The Cichlid has to fight and protect the eggs only if it lays the eggs in water. It not only knows its weakness that it cannot fight its enemies and protects its eggs if they are laid in water, but also knows the fact that the eggs are the most preferred and easy food of all aquatic animals. Above all, it also knows it has to safeguard the eggs.

The management message is that one should know the following

1. Own strength
2. Competition
3. The task to achieve

Even if one is not strong enough to defend the task, one should never shun the responsibility. Newer strength one can develop only when one knows the weakness. The weakness will necessitate one to become strong by some innovative means to overcome the weakness. Similarly, never worry about the competition. Competition always strengthens your performance and performance potential. Competition only gives birth to smartness.

One can overpower ones weakness when the weakness is recognized and similarly one can also develop an edge over competition. But both are possible only if when one is married to the task. The task must be valued the most and only then one can work passionately to achieve/accomplish/complete the task.

Look at the intelligence of Cichlid fish. How smartly it overcomes its weakness i.e., it is a poor fighter, hence has smartly selected the non aquatic environment to lay its eggs. Thereby it also smartly outwits its competitors.

When the corporate people recognize their weakness, they should quickly develop a smart strategy and from it, should derive strength. From such strength, they should not only achieve success but also must overpower competition.

Dr S Ranganathan