What animal behaviour can teach us about work, life & job hunting

A few months ago, I watched the BBC Programme series 'The Hunt'.

It was fascinating to watch. Apart from the stunning video clips and all of the work that was involved in the filming, it was the lessons that we can learn from animal behaviour and some of their attributes that really intrigued me. All of these lessons can be applied to work, to the job search and to life in general.

Patience and timing

Everything in life is about timing. When you bake a cake - if you take it out too early, it will be raw, but if you leave it in the oven too long, it will be burned. You simply can't rush - or prolong - things. Everything has to go through a process. Sometimes we try to rush through things, trying to get to the "final" outcome, when really, we should focus on the now. And this can often be the case when we want to do something new at work right now (when we're not really ready), or when we're in too much of a rush to get that big promotion. Be in the moment and take time to learn and develop your skills properly; stepping back and allowing things to unfold while waiting patiently for the perfect timing will increase your chances of success.

Persistence and the ability to grow thick crocodile skin

The fact that today is not the right time doesn't mean that it never will be. No matter what the situation is, the more no's you hear, the closer it brings you to a yes.

Learning to cope with rejection and continue onwards is crucial in any career and especially so when you are looking for a job. Don’t take constructive criticism or interview feedback personally. And always remember that an interview is all about two-way communication; it's a chance for you and the interviewer to learn more about each other and ask yourselves:

• Could you work well with that person?
• Do personal values and company values align?
• Do you like what the company stands for?
• Is the company the right fit for you; are you the right fit for the company?

Agility and flexibility like the gazelle

In life and in the workplace, there are times when you need to be able to make decisions quickly and be open and flexible enough to change direction.

Team work like the wild dogs chasing their prey

At work and in life, work with others when the task at hand is impossible to tackle on your own. You need to surround yourself with great people to help you with the things that you are not so good at, or just to keep things running when you need some down time. Remember: it’s important to have breaks and take time to do things we enjoy. Having this time for ourselves makes us more creative and able to approach things from a different perspective.

Ability to see the bigger picture like the hack

Keeping the bigger picture in mind gives you perspective and from this, comes balance.

And one of the most important: don't give up!

It’s not about how many times something doesn’t work. Try something new, change, adapt, tweak, find new options and opportunities, and keep trying until you find the solution / amazing new job that meets your needs.

These are only a few of the things that we can learn from animals' hunting behaviour. What other things can we learn from animals? I would love to hear your ideas!

More about Tamara Medina Sapovalova

Tamara Medina is the founder of Sapovalova Coaching, member of Tech London Advocates, Former Huffington Post Spanish blogger and author of ‘10 days, 10 actions, 10 times more productive’ published in English and Spanish. She has written for various magazines and international publications. She has also been a judge in several technology start-up panels and is a mentor at MassChallenge, Startup Chile and Major’s International Business Programme. She specialises in helping people develop their entrepreneurial and leadership mind-sets.

For over fifteen years she has worked with renowned companies in Mexico, the United States and England, where she worked for the BBC. In 2016, she launched the 10XProductive online programme. Head on over to the Sapovalova Coaching website and connect with Tamara on LinkedIn.