HR message from the tricks of Mallard Duck

Even if you are capable, talented, knowledgeable and competent, still you may have to play some tricks for success is the management message the mallard ducks conveys to the corporate.

Post breeding season, i.e., after hatching the chicks from eggs, the female and male mallard ducks undergoes a process called molting. This is called pre-summer or post winter molting. During molting, they loose their plumage and become less conspicuous or less visible. They have to be less visible as immediately after molting, they loose their ability to fly and they gain flight ability only after re-growth of the plumage, i.e., during the next winter migration.

When the mallard looses its ability to fly, it has to become less visible to its predators. Flightless birds are always vulnerable to predators. All the more, during molting the mallards also will have chicks to rear. It looses its plumage pre summer in order to radiate heat. This is all about the biological advantages of mallard ducks the nature has given.

The corporate must learn about the mallard ducks beyond the space of their biological ability or uniqueness.

During building nest, they select the nesting site so cleverly that no predators can either notice them or locate them. Mallard ducks are ground nesting birds. Even if they notice the accidental entry or presence of a predator, the mother duck ‘feign’ injury and limbs. By seeing the injured or lame duck, naturally the predators would move towards the injured duck. The duck smartly guide the predator and take them further away from the nest and later fool them.

In boss subordinate interaction, both parties should remember the key aspect of management that capability/ability whatever one has is not enough for success. One also needs to play some wise/smart tricks to be successful. Learn to feign what is not but certainly with good intent. If the mallard had not faked injury, the quest of predator would have ended up successful predation of its eggs or chicks. Through faking, she offers herself as an easy meal to the predator and thereby she could protect her nest.

Building the nest by carefully selecting the place and having less visible body colour during molting are indeed the best capability nature has provided to the mallard ducks and one can argue that why the above traits are still sufficient for them to be successful. They went beyond with a finest strategy or trick and become successful.

The message is not to fake what is not, but learn to play ‘tricks’ when required. But never do the trade out of trick is the management message the corporate world must learn from mallard ducks.

Dr S Ranganathan