HR wisdom of Mexican whip tail lizard

Importance of rehearsal or mock presentation before the ‘big show’ is well known to some animals in nature as well, especially the Mexican whip tail lizard. In corporate, the people, especially during annual review period become busy preparing power point presentations capturing all their achievements to showcase to the top management. Generally, they would use such opportunity to attract the complete attention of the top management for better increments, promotion etc.

Most corporate people work hard to make each PPT slides as colorful and unique as possible. Relatively less importance is given to the content than how the slide should look to the top management. Selections of the font, color, background, design of the slide are also done meticulously.

The issue is whether such preparations are enough or should they also rehearse the content as to how to present the same flawlessly to the top management? Rehearsals always give better result is what the approach of nature as well.

One should not worry about the audience, but the rehearsal always give confidence and it helps one to prepare better to the ‘reality show’ is the message, the less known reptile – the ‘Mexican Whip Tailed Lizard’ convey to the corporate.

An interesting thing about the Mexican whip-tailed lizard is that they are born females and there are no male members in them. They reproduce by a process called ‘parthenogenesis’.

Prior to laying eggs, the female Mexican whip-tailed lizards ‘pseudo-copulate’ among themselves. It has been reported that among the two females, one would act like a male and the other as female. Studies have further shown that the lizard that acts as the female lays a number of eggs than the one act as male. At different seasons, these lizards do change their role as well to ensure that all the females in the group become equally capable of laying a large number of eggs.

Although they reproduce by means of parthenogenesis where the male partner is not required, still they mimic the process of true mating, and the female whiptail lizards thereby enhance their egg laying capability.

The corporate employees must get the message straight from the above example. Although the audience with whom they rehearse or give a mock presentation may not add any value certainly such excise will provide confidence and scope for perfection.

The most important management message is that one has to practice and only when one practice continuously, perfection can be achieved. Prior preparation and rigorous practices are inevitable for success. Follow the Mexican whiptail lizard and learn the management essential of through preparation before a show-up.

Dr S Ranganathan