AntwisCollaborative

Surprising Leadership Lessons from Nature

Fact 1: The Northwestern Crow is from the Mandarte Island, Canada

Fact 2: The Northwestern Crows’ favourite food are whelks

Fact 3: Northwestern Crows drop whelks from height to break open their hard shells

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Sounds simple but carefully considered decisions need to be made:

• Firstly, whelks are not all the same size.
• Secondly, flying costs energy!
• Thirdly, what is the best site to drop whelks on to?

The decision-making process of the Northwestern Crow can teach us so much about how to lead in our schools.  It can teach us about prioritisation, optimisation, cost-benefit analysis, when to persist / when to move on and how to empower our staff.

• The whelks represent the task / the initiative / the project – whatever! 
• The crow represents the leader!
• The site represents the skills, the resources and the environment.

Large whelks will give crows more energy when eaten and they break open more easily.  Smaller whelks are not worth the flying up high versus the energy they give.  The whelk will spend the appropriate amount of time “weighing” the whelks by observing them and picking them up and putting them back down again.  If there are no optimally sized whelks then the crow will abandon whelks and look for something else.

This is akin to spending time assessing whether an initiative will have the required value.  Will it affect pupil outcomes sufficiently compared to the effort put in?  The best leaders spend time assessing this and making judgements about whether to persist or move on to something else.

When Northwestern Crows have found the perfect whelk they will fly to an average of exactly 5.2 metres height to drop the whelk onto the appropriate surface.  After an average of 4 drops the whelk breaks open. 

• Any higher – the whelk smashes into inedible pieces or other predators have time to nip in and steal the whelk pieces! 
• Any lower – the whelk fails to break open and too much energy is expended compared to what the whelk would have given the crow.

Crows instinctively know what the optimum amount of effort is to gain the maximum rewards. 

This is an important leadership lesson; we must have the skill to be able to identify initiatives and changes that create maximum pupil outcomes for optimum teacher effort.

In fact, the cleverest crows fly a little bit higher than 5.2m and after a slight drop from the optimum height they release the whelk whilst now facing downwards. This allows the crow:

• to have a “running start” at collecting the exposed whelk;
• be facing in the right direction;
• get a better view of the landing site and
• beat a potential opponent to the quarry.

The best leaders do something similar – they ensure their staff have the appropriate skills to best perform their roles and they can monitor and measure their own progress and respond to feedback.

Finally, Northwestern Crows are brilliant at “site selection.”  They look for hard surfaces (to improve the chances of breaking the shell) away from deep water and long grass (to avoid the whelk bouncing and being lost). 

The most astute leaders can determine the best time, place and resources to launch new initiatives or try and deliver change and maximise the chances of success.

So, my advice to school leaders?

Be more crow!

If this blog has inspired you then can I recommend a visit to the EEF at the following site:

Explore tool for making evidence-informed decisions | Education Endowment Foundation

This blog was brought to you by Simon Antwis, Director at Antwis Collaborative. Former Biology teacher, head of department, housemaster and headteacher.

If you enjoyed this blog, please take a look at the Antwis Collaborative website. Home (antwiscollaborative.co.uk)

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At Antwis Collaborative, we are dedicated to empowering school leaders through personalised coaching, cutting-edge professional learning, and unwavering support. With decades of experience in education, we understand the challenges and opportunities that today’s school leaders face. Our goal is to help leaders unlock their potential, foster positive school cultures, and create transformative learning opportunities that impact both staff and pupils.

With 30 years of experience working in schools, including 20 years as a school and Trust leader, Antwis Collaborative brings expertise, insight, and empathy to the table. We are more than a consultancy; we are partners in your leadership journey. Our collaborative approach ensures that support is tailored to the individual needs of each leader and school, driving sustainable, long-term impact.

Connect with Us: Let’s explore how Antwis Collaborative can support your leadership and your school. Home (antwiscollaborative.co.uk)