The Zoo at Work
A 30-Day Safari into Our Workplace Instincts
Welcome to The Zoo at Work — where metaphors roam free and familiar behaviours take on unexpected shapes. Over 30 days, you’ll meet pairs of animal archetypes drawn not from nature documentaries, but from real teams, awkward meetings, and yes — the person in the mirror.
Each duo highlights a contrast: loud vs. quiet, cautious vs. quick, visible vs. overlooked. But this isn’t about boxing people in. We all shift, adapt, and occasionally surprise ourselves. Most of us are a little Macaw and a little Bat, depending on the day.
This series isn’t a test. It’s an invitation to observe with humour, reflect with honesty, and maybe shift how we show up.
So take a breath. Scroll slowly. And let the safari begin.
Note: I created all visuals on this page using Canva.com, an online graphic design tool, with the support of AI.
Through the Gates: A Friendly Warning Before You Visit the Zoo
Every workplace is a jungle of instincts and behaviours — and this series invites you to stroll through it with humour, insight, and a fresh lens on how we all show up at work.
Day 1: The Singing Cicada vs. The Working Ant
In every workplace, some dazzle with their voice while others deliver with their silence — but real success lies in knowing when to sing and when to build.
Day 2: The Whispering Hyena vs. The Grounded Elephant
Two quiet presences — one sows confusion behind the scenes, the other brings calm without a word — and both reveal how power moves in silence.
Day 3: The Changing Ptarmigan vs. The Steady Penguin
Some adapt so well they disappear; others stay so firm they start to crack, but both reveal how we navigate identity in changing environments.
Day 4: The Poison Dart Frog vs. The Gentle Bison
Some harm without ever raising their voice, while others protect without softening their presence — and both challenge how we read safety in the workplace.
Day 5 : The Buzzing Mosquito vs. The Glowing Firefly
Some fill the air with constant noise to be noticed, while others offer a single spark that quietly transforms the room — a lesson in presence over performance.
Day 6: The Opportunistic Cuckoo vs. The Crafting Weaverbird
Some glide into polished outcomes without lifting a feather, while others quietly carry the weight of the whole project — and both reveal how effort and credit often part ways.
Day 7: The Exuberant Parrot vs. The Cynical Vulture
One cheers too loudly to face the cracks, the other doubts too deeply to see potential — both remind us that how we manage emotion shapes what teams become.
Day 8: The Resistant Salmon vs. The Following Sardines
Some swim upstream to honour what matters, others stay with the school to keep the peace — and both reveal how courage and conformity shape our professional paths.
Day 9: The Tireless Beetle vs. The Serene Swan
Some carry the hidden weight that holds everything together, while others glide above it all — and both reveal how visibility and value don’t always align.
Day 10: The Parasitic Tick vs. The Strategic Oxpecker
Some quietly drain the people around them, while others grow through mutual exchange — revealing that not all closeness is connection.
Day 11: The Sabotaging Termite vs. The Constructive Beaver
Some quietly destabilise the system through delays and omissions, while others hold it together through quiet acts of care — both showing how invisible behaviours shape collective strength.
Day 12: The Wasteful Boar vs. The Prudent Squirrel
Some treat shared resources as limitless simply because the bill isn’t theirs — others practice quiet discipline, knowing that what’s wasted today may be missed tomorrow.
Day 13: The Pulling Crab vs. The Lifting Gorilla
Some pull others down out of fear of being left behind, while others lift them up with strength rooted in generosity — and both reveal what we believe about success.
Day 14: The Stealthy Leopard vs. The Coordinated Wolfpack
Some race ahead powered by personal brilliance, others move in sync through trust — and both reveal what we value more: spotlight or solidarity.
Every workplace is a jungle of instincts and behaviours — and this series invites you to stroll through it with humour, insight, and a fresh lens on how we all show up at work.