BY WASHINGTON CHIMUZU
In the world of wildlife, few creatures command as much quiet authority as the elephant. Towering, gentle, and profoundly intelligent, elephants are not only nature’s giants but also powerful teachers. For project managers, the life and behavior of elephants offer timeless lessons, from strategic planning and team nurturing to long-term thinking and stakeholder impact.
A few years ago, African Parks—an organization dedicated to conservation and park management—undertook one of the most ambitious wildlife relocation projects in Africa. They transported 500 elephants from Liwonde National Park to Nkhotakota and Kasungu National Parks in Malawi. This project was not just a feat of logistics—it was a symbol of foresight, ecological restoration, and collaboration across multiple stakeholders. It involved complex coordination, risk management, environmental sensitivity, and long-term value creation—hallmarks of good project management.
The Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide) defines a project as a “temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product, service, or result.” African Parks’ initiative fit this definition perfectly and excelled because it mirrored some of the strengths seen in elephants themselves.
The first lesson is strategic thinking. Elephants are known for their excellent memory. They remember migration routes, water holes, and even individual humans. In project management, memory translates to institutional knowledge and lessons learned. The PMBOK emphasizes the importance of lessons learned registers and historical information to guide future projects.
Just as elephants recall past paths to avoid danger or find sustenance, successful project managers learn from what went right—and wrong—in past efforts.
The second lesson is concerned with how project managers can or should nurture their teams. Elephants are nurturing creatures. Mothers care for their young over many years,
And herds are known to protect calves collectively. This speaks directly to the PMBOK’s emphasis on team development and leadership.
Great project managers don’t just assign tasks—they coach, support, and protect their teams, especially the inexperienced. They foster an environment where everyone grows and where team members feel valued and safe to contribute.
The third lesson deals with Environmental Impact and Stakeholder Value. Elephants are keystone species, meaning they shape their environment in ways that benefit entire ecosystems. From clearing paths through dense forests to digging waterholes that other animals use, elephants create value beyond their own needs. In modern project management, there is a shift from traditional metrics (time, scope, cost) to stakeholder value and long-term impact, as emphasized in recent PMI research. Every project, like every elephant movement, should be evaluated not just by immediate outputs but by the ripple effects it has on communities, environments, and future generations.
The fourth lesson pertains to risk management. Elephants are protective—of their young, their herds, and their territory. Similarly, project managers must anticipate risks and build protective strategies. Whether it’s a contingency reserve or stakeholder engagement plan, good PMs shield their projects from threats and act early to defend what matters most.
Elephants walk with wisdom, strength, and purpose. They plan routes that span years, nurture their herds with care, and alter their landscapes with every step. For project managers, this is a call to action—to move deliberately, think long-term, protect our teams, and aim for value that outlives the project timeline.
In a world where success is increasingly measured by sustainability and stakeholder value, project managers are increasingly required to apply wisdom, strategic thinking towards making impactful decisions.