What Can a Koi Pond Teach Us About Leadership?

Dear Friends,

When we first met Michael Strickland, he told us he had a very special set of teachers: the koi in his beautiful backyard pond.

Naturally, we wanted to hear more.

Michael has spent more than 50,000 hours coaching business owners, executives, and leadership teams. Yet caring for his koi helped him see his work in a new way. His choices shaped the environment the fish depended on to thrive. Every tiny adjustment mattered and so did his willingness to pay attention.

We knew we had a special book on our hands!

Today, we’re delighted to celebrate the launch of A Different Kind of Leader: Rediscovering Leadership Through Nature’s Quiet Teachers.

At the heart of Michael’s book is a question that can give any of us pause: What has my team been seeing in me that I haven’t yet recognized in myself?

Every leader has blind spots. Our habits, instincts, and decisions affect the people around us, often in ways we don’t fully understand. Recognizing those patterns gives us a place to begin making meaningful changes.

Drawing on decades of coaching experience, Michael introduces six leadership portraits, each paired with an animal whose instincts offer a fresh perspective on how we lead. These portraits invite readers to recognize themselves, consider their influence, and explore what their teams need from them.

One of the things we love about this book is its invitation to slow down and observe. Nature gives Michael a compelling way to make leadership personal and approachable. His stories encourage the kind of honest reflection that can lead to small, steady changes in how we show up for others.

If you lead a business, manage a team, or want to better understand the influence you have, we hope you’ll spend some time with Michael and his quiet teachers.

​Get your copy of A Different Kind of Leader ​

Please join us in congratulating Michael on his launch! It has been a joy to help bring his insights to the page.

With aloha,

Beth Berger