Wolf Packs
The Wolf Pack is the ultimate metaphor for collective
safety, security and growth. It is because of this that we
chose it as our company name and is central to our core values.
Unlike so many other vision statements, we do practice what we preach.
And here’s the story.
Wolves in general and the White Wolf specifically are the quintessential
metaphor for collective safety, security and growth. The White, or Arctic,
wolf inhabits an area typified by extremes; long periods of darkness and short periods
of light and scarce food resources. The only way for a wolf to survive and
reproduce is by bonding together in packs. The popular ‘lone wolf’ is the
exception. The qualities of the wolf pack make an excellent model for human group dynamics.
Whether the human pack is a business unit, IT department, family or other group,
we have much to learn from the wolf. Here’s an example, using our specialty,
computer network security.
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The wolf pack has a clearly defined social order, with the Alpha pair at
the top and the Omega wolf at the bottom. The Alpha pair enjoys the most
freedom, being the strongest and most fit, they are the ones to breed and
eat first. The Omega wolf is the baby sitter and ‘pressure valve’
of the pack, bearing the brunt of aggression. There are three primary things to
learn from this:
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Every team needs an alpha. The Alpha is chosen based on attitude more
so than sheer size or strength. A mere brute is NOT a leader; nor is
having seniority, prior experience or social connections.
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Just because you are not an Alpha, does NOT mean that you are valueless to
the pack. The pack must work together to survive. The Omega typically babysits
the pups while the rest of the pack hunts. Think of the awesome responsibility;
the future of the pack is entrusted to the lowest of rank at a time when there
are no witnesses or defenses.
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Rank changes over time. Things change over time, and so too must pack
order and rank. A good Alpha knows when to step aside and let others lead.
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To survive, the pack must hunt together. Wolves will hunt moose, caribou and
musk oxen. Any of these three will easily outweigh, outrun and out fight a lone
wolf. The only way to secure food is to hunt as a pack. It takes the entire pack
to hunt down and kill just one caribou.
- It takes an entire team to keep the hackers out. A single systems administrator is not enough
- Everyone has a role during the hunt and everyone eats; so the pack survives
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Wolves are not all about work. Wolves spend a fair amount of time at rest and play.
Both are essential to health and survival. Play is used to teach pups essential
skills and to build stronger bodies. When food is scarce, a wolf pack may roam an
area in excess of 1,000 square miles in search of food. You cannot do that in one
day.
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We use cyber exercises as play to help teach system administrators and teams how
to function and work in a live cyber attack environment
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When we conduct a multi-day, around the clock exercise, a good Alpha will ensure her
team gets rest. Few people are very effective on no sleep.
It takes a wolf pack to bring down its prey. Ask yourself…are you a wolf?
