Dr S Ranganathan, ClinRise Derma Pvt., Ltd., Chennai

1. Naked mole rats are otherwise called as ‘sand puppy’ or desert mole rats, belong to
the group - rodents, live subterranean (underground) life. They live in burrows that
extent up to several kilometers. They are unique both from the biological as well as
from the behavioural end. Among vertebrates (animals with back bone) and more
so with mammals, the naked mole rats only exhibits ‘eusociality’ like many insect
species like wasps, termites, ants, honey bees etc.
Social organization and the division of labor in the society of naked mole rats are
defined unambiguously. The single prominent breeding queen who is supported by
large number of workers and soldiers are found in their colony. A few male are also
present in the colony for the purpose of reproduction.
The breeding or reproductive queen is the one occupying the top position in the
hierarchy. Among the soldiers and workers, there are several females, but are
sexually sterile. As long as these females can remain ‘quiescent sexually’ can live
peacefully in the colony. If they show any further growth towards sexual maturity
by secreting the sex hormones, are evicted or forced to recede from such
development.
If the queen dies, many females gallop to fierce fight to occupy the top position.
Many may loose the battle and become worker or soldier again and the winner
indeed becomes the new queen of the colony.
The well evolved social setup and division of labor seen in the colony of naked mole
rats definitely reveal the true and genuine existence of such leadership in most
corporate. Such leadership is more pronounced in ‘single man corporate’ as mostly
they lack vision and value.
While appreciating such orderly social hierarchy of naked mole rats, the corporate
people should introspect as which position they hold in the corporate.
The queen mole rat ensures that all other females in the colony remain as either
worker or soldier and never ever should attain sexual maturity in other words, the
leadership quality. Many corporate leaders appreciate their subordinates mainly to
ensure that they remain as what they are, forever. Only when the subordinate
remain as subordinate in all sense, these bosses can remain as what they are.
The bosses in most corporate used to say that unless they ‘interfere’ and ‘interject’
in the activity of their subordinates every then and there, their subordinates might
not even perform. Indirectly these bosses are communicating nothing but their
subordinates’ worth only to remain as ‘subordinates’.
Never be a part of such system. Introspect whether your corporate follow and be
proud of such working style or culture. If so, search another job immediately.
Remember, you are not born to live and die as an employee. Discover the hidden
talents, leadership capabilities and purpose in you.

2. Although the social hierarchy of naked mole rats is amazing, but never love to be a
member in such colony, where you will have to remain ‘quiescent’ and ‘inert’
throughout, despite having all talents.
Dr S Ranganathan, ClinRise Derma Pvt., Ltd., Chennai
Learn more from the following management books
1. Jungle wisdom for corporate management – lessons from the university
of nature by Swami Sukhabodhananda and Dr S Ranganathan
2. Nature – The Entrepreneur by Dr S Ranganathan