So what has puppy leadership got to do with work? Most people who know me, especially those who follow my social media, will know that we welcomed Mille, a fox red labrador retriever, into our home and hearts last October. Owning a dog, especially a puppy, has certainly been eye-opening.

When you bring a puppy into your life, you aren’t just welcoming a bundle of energy and joy—you’re taking on the responsibility of guiding, nurturing, and creating a safe, structured environment. It’s surprisingly similar to leadership. The parallels may seem whimsical at first and I’m not suggesting it’s good practice for leaders to treat their team members like puppies! However, leading a puppy offers a valuable lens to reflect on responsible and inclusive leadership in professional and personal spheres. Let me share some lessons, shaped by my own leadership journey, that owning a puppy can teach about fostering trust, embracing diversity, and leading with empathy.

Building Trust Through Consistency

The first few weeks with a puppy are all about trust. Every pat, kind word, and consistent routine lays the foundation for a relationship. They need to know you’ll feed them, walk them, and be there when they’re scared. As leaders, this lesson translates into building trust within our teams. People look for consistency in words and actions, whether it’s delivering on promises or maintaining open communication. Trust isn’t given; it’s earned through repeated, intentional effort.

In my various roles leading teams and companies, I learned the importance of showing up consistently, whether for my team or customers. When people trust you, they feel secure to share their ideas and concerns, which leads to more innovative and effective outcomes.

Empathy Unlocks Potential

Puppies don’t speak our language, but their needs are often loud and clear: a bark, a wagging tail, or those big, pleading eyes. Empathy is key to understanding them and helping them thrive. Leadership, similarly, requires tuning in to unspoken cues, recognizing when someone is overwhelmed or needs encouragement, and providing support.

Empathy isn’t a soft skill; it’s foundational

Empathy isn’t a soft skill; it’s foundational. By empathizing with employees’ unique challenges—whether they’re juggling work and family or navigating a steep learning curve—you enable them to thrive. As I emphasized during my time as a leader, empowering individuals starts with understanding their world and creating an environment where they feel valued.

Adaptability Is Essential

Puppies are unpredictable. They’ll chew your favourite shoes one day and then master “sit” the next. As a leader, you’ll face similar unpredictability. Strategies might fail, projects might derail, and people will surprise you in good and challenging ways. Leadership requires adapting to situations with resilience and calm.

Managing teams after a significant acquisition taught me that adapting doesn’t mean abandoning structure; it means having the flexibility to adjust the structure to meet new challenges. Similarly, with a puppy, you might tweak routines to match their growth or needs, but your underlying principles of care remain steadfast.

Puppy Leadership: Celebrate Small Wins

Puppies—and people—respond to positive reinforcement. When your puppy finally understands “stay” after weeks of effort, that small victory is worth celebrating. In leadership, recognizing small milestones is just as vital. Celebrating progress boosts morale and creates momentum for larger successes.

My favourite leadership moments have been celebrating the completion of complex projects with my team. It wasn’t just about the end result but acknowledging the effort, collaboration, and creativity that went into each phase. People, like puppies, thrive on acknowledgement and encouragement.

Inclusivity Builds Strength

Embracing diversity of thought, background, and skills doesn’t just make a team stronger—it fosters innovation and trust.

Dogs don’t judge. They’ll wag their tails at strangers, embrace new experiences, and adapt to diverse environments. This instinctual inclusivity is something we can emulate as leaders. Embracing diversity of thought, background, and skills doesn’t just make a team stronger—it fosters innovation and trust.

During my MBA at the University of Winchester, we studied how inclusivity drives collaboration and innovation. Teams that welcome different perspectives are more creative and better equipped to solve complex problems. Like a puppy thrives in a home that balances structure with openness, organizations flourish when inclusivity becomes a core value.

Patience Leads to Progress

If there’s one virtue puppies teach us, it’s patience. Leadership, too, is rarely about instant results. Developing people, building culture, or implementing change takes time. Impatience can erode trust and undermine progress, but patience allows for growth and learning.

For example, while leading a multi-functional team at Prosig, I realized the importance of giving space for experimentation. Not every idea was a success, but the failures often led to better solutions. Much like training a puppy, the journey of learning together was as valuable as the destination.

Balancing Discipline with Kindness

Raising a puppy involves discipline—not harshness, but structure and boundaries. They need to know what’s acceptable and what isn’t. The same goes for leadership. Clarity around expectations and accountability is crucial, but so is kindness.

Both in companies I have worked for and others, I have seen firsthand that leadership isn’t about wielding authority; it’s about setting a clear vision and empowering people to follow it. Kindness in correction and discipline builds loyalty and respect far more effectively than fear.

The Power of Play

These small, playful moments strengthen bonds and reminded us that work is just one part of a fulfilling life

Finally, puppies remind us not to take life too seriously. They find joy in simple things: a ball, a sunny spot on the floor, or a new patch of grass. As leaders, we must foster environments where fun and creativity thrive. Workplaces shouldn’t just be about output but also about creating space for moments of joy.

I often incorporate humour and lightheartedness into the culture of the companies I work with. These small, playful moments strengthen bonds and remind us that work is just one part of a fulfilling life.

Conclusion: Puppy Leadership Beyond the Leash

Owning a puppy is a reminder that leadership isn’t about control; it’s about partnership. It’s about building trust, embracing diversity, and guiding with empathy and patience. Whether you’re raising a mischievous pup or leading a team through a challenging project, the principles are remarkably similar.

Responsible and inclusive leadership doesn’t just make workplaces better—it creates environments where everyone, from puppies to professionals, can thrive. So next time you see a puppy wagging its tail, remember: there’s a lot it can teach you about being a better leader.

Chris Mason MBA

Advisor – Leadership, Innovation & Strategy

Chris Mason is a seasoned leader with over 40 years in the tech industry, recognized for his expertise in strategy, innovation, and team empowerment. As the former General Manager of an engineering software house, he guided the company and its teams through the peaks and troughs. And helped create some of the best vibration and acoustics analysis solutions in the world through strategic innovation and an inclusive approach to leadership.

Chris holds an Executive MBA from the University of Winchester, where his research on “Barriers to Open Innovation for Technology SMEs” reflected his passion for fostering collaboration and driving change. Beyond corporate roles, he is a trusted strategic advisor and non-executive director, helping startups and SMEs unlock potential through leadership development, digital/AI adoption and business strategy. His goal is to transform ideas into impactful realities, empowering teams and businesses to thrive in competitive landscapes.