A Lesson From Arctic Herders

Creating Favorable Conditions for Resilient Leadership

January 03, 2025 • Reading Time: 3 minutes

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Hey fellow humanitarian leader,

First of all, I wish you a happy beginning of 2025!

I am writing this email a few hours after returning to my duty station.

While waiting at the airport, I read an article from the BBC on the 10 words we learnt in 2024 that will expand our minds. The link is at the end of this email, I wanted you to read today’s lesson before checking it!

This is the word that caught my attention:

Ealát

An near-untranslatable word used by North Sami reindeer herders in the Arctic, referring to favourable conditions that allow reindeer to dig for nutritious lichen under the snow.

Ealát is the environment permitting reindeer to find their food and strive, even in adverse conditions.

I find a strong connection to our work.

We work in adverse conditions.

Our team need to find their motivation (food) and strive.

As leaders, we must be the environment and give our team favorable conditions internally to compensate for external adverse conditions. We must ensure that teams can access the resources and resilience required to be successful.

No team can function well without these conditions, and no such conditions exist without a leader building the appropriate Ealát for the team.

First, you must understand the environment in which you operate. This requires studying the context and listening to communities and colleagues.

The next step is favorable conditions. By providing your team with clear communication, a long-term strategy, psychological safety, adaptability, resources, and support, you will lead your team to strong resilience.

Is this Ealát?

A simple exercise

Answer these questions:

  • What are the Ealát-like conditions you can create for your team?

  • How are you fostering resilience and adaptability in your leadership style?

Now take action:

  • Reflect on one challenge your team is currently facing and identify a “favorable condition” you could create to address it.

Ask for feedback:

  • Write to me with your answers and let’s discuss them together! It’s free, educational, and probably fun! You only have to hit reply to this email.

Resources

And finally, as promised, the link to find out the other nine words!

Thanks for reading,
Luca