From Animal Behavior to Human Behavior
Robert van Schie is a speaker, trainer, and consultant for zoo animals where he aims to improve animal welfare. In his lectures, he demonstrates how insights from animal training can be directly applied in teams and organizations. He combines practical stories with relatable examples.
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Robert van Schie started as an animal caretaker at the age of fifteen. He grew into an animal trainer and behavior therapist with 32 years of experience. He has worked with dolphins, sea lions, walruses, gorillas, tigers, lions, elephants, giraffes, crocodiles, and many other species. Over the years, he discovered that animals provide the same lessons that leaders, parents, and teachers need daily. Behavior. Trust. Communication. Motivation.
Robert is a speaker and trainer and still serves as a consultant for zoo animals where he aims to improve animal welfare. His lecture ‘Leadership with a Tail’ shows how insights from animal training can be directly applied in teams and organizations. He combines practical stories with relatable examples. He keeps the pace high and actively engages the audience in his narrative.
Additionally, Robert conducts training sessions for companies and zoos, where he utilizes his experience and allows participants to observe animals live. He then collaborates with the group to translate animal behavior into human behavior. This makes his approach concrete and directly applicable for anyone working with people.
Robert offers a unique perspective. He translates the world of animal behavior into human behavior. He speaks with energy, humor, and sharp observations. His examples are clear and immediately applicable. Organizations choose him because he makes behavior understandable and demonstrates how small steps can have a significant impact.
What animals taught me, I pass on to people. This way, trust, communication, and true leadership grow.
Leadership based on trust. Effective communication and body language. Motivation and behavioral change. Team development and psychological safety. Intuition and being present as a leader. Learning from mistakes. Stronger collaboration through clear agreements and consistent behavior.
In this lecture, Robert shows how animal training surprisingly resembles leading people. He shares stories about dolphins, sea lions, and lions, among others. He demonstrates how trust grows, why body language speaks louder than words, what constitutes a good reward, how to motivate without pressure, and how animals teach you to observe behavior without judgment.
The lecture is suitable for leaders, teams, HR, education, and healthcare. It is an energetic session with plenty of interaction and practical insights that provide immediate effects.
Robert helps you observe like a trainer and act like a leader. He provides you with clear tools for communication, motivation, and collaboration. He ensures a program that is fresh, personal, and enlightening. Organizations book him when they want behavioral change that works and lasts.
Trust is built through behaviour that is predictable. You show that you stay, even when things get tense. Animals respond directly to your attitude. Teams do the same. You create safety through clarity, respect, and small achievable steps. Trust is felt. It determines whether people dare to learn and take responsibility.
Good communication starts with observing. You read body language, your timing is right, and you respond to what happens. In animal training, this always works. In teams, it works the same way. You make contact, ask questions, and check if the other person truly understands you. Clear communication prevents misunderstandings and accelerates collaboration.
Change succeeds when people understand why it is necessary. You provide direction, space, and support. Animals adopt new behaviour more quickly when it feels safe and when they experience influence. It works the same way with people. You make change concrete. You show what the first step is and promise no leaps that no one can follow.
Culture is behaviour that you see daily. It arises from choices, rhythm, and role modelling. In a strong culture, everyone knows what is important and how to interact with each other. Animals live clearly. Teams can do that too. You set the tone. You make desired behaviour visible and agree on what no longer fits. This is how you build a culture that works.
Motivation arises when someone feels that their effort is meaningful. In animal training, you see it immediately. An animal works with pleasure when it knows what is expected of it and when it can experience success. This works exactly the same with people. You provide direction, make goals achievable, and celebrate every step forward. Intrinsic motivation grows when someone has freedom of choice and is recognised. This is how you get teams that want to, not teams that have to.
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