Many a presentation has been delivered using wildlife as an analogy, but none has ever approached the subject from such an important and relevant angle as this! Dominating our territory in the same way that Lions do and protecting our markets from international competition must be a priority for all South African companies.

Gerhard de Lange had been involved in conservation for the past ten years and is well known to visitors of the Pilanesberg National Park . As former Head Ranger at Mabula, Bakubung, Kwa-Maritane and Tshukudu Game Lodges, he has accompanied thousands of conference delegates and overseas guests on educational wildlife activities.

During 1993, the Bophuthatswana National Parks Board introduced 19 free-ranging lions into the Pilanesberg National Park . Fascinated with them, Gerhard made it his hobby to follow them and learn more about their behaviour. This he did, day and night, for four years and the lessons he learned regarding the skills, tactics and techniques used by these lions to protect their territory proved invaluable. Over and above formulating a presentation about pride male behaviour from which business could learn, he has also written a book on his experiences.

The most profound observation was that the primary objective of a Pride Male is to protect his territory at all costs - an objective that all local companies should be seriously considering, bearing in mind not only the influx, but the onslaught of international competition into our local markets.

In this spellbinding analogy, Gerhard describes how the 19 lions, which were relocated into the Pilanesberg National Park , split into three prides and carved out their own territories. He describes in detail the lengths the pride males had to go to to protect their territory and the continuous battles they had to endure with younger, more agile male lions attempting to invade that territory. The story is not only fascinating, but holds valuable lessons for business people at all levels.

Lions protect their territory at all costs - even if it means fighting to the death, and if SA companies do not formulate competitive strategies in the face of the international competition pouring into this country, they may find themselves being ousted by the competition, as happened to a couple of lions in this situation.

If your company is operating in a competitive environment, this one hour slide-based presentation, full of interesting analogies and stories, would prove to be extremely interesting.

Aspects covered during this presentation on 'Dominance':

•  D ominate Your Market Share

•  O bjectives, the Safeguarding and Aggressive Defence of Territory and Resources

•  M aximize every Opportunity to Increase Market Share

•  I ntimate Knowledge of Your Company and Your Competitors

•  N ecessary Communication between Employees

•  A dapt to an Ever-Changing Environment

•  N atural Cycles and Strategic Alliances

•  C ommitment

•  E liminate the Competition

Organisations that do not acknowledge the value of their market share and strive to protect it in the face of the onslaught of international competition into South Africa , will cease to exist in the future!

"Thank you very much for your fantastic talk on lions.'
LIBERTY LIFE