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.
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.
Two quiet presences — one sows confusion behind the scenes, the other brings calm without a word — and both reveal how power moves in silence.
Some adapt so well they disappear; others stay so firm they start to crack, but both reveal how we navigate identity in changing environments.
Some harm without ever raising their voice, while others protect without softening their presence — and both challenge how we read safety in the workplace.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Some quietly drain the people around them, while others grow through mutual exchange — revealing that not all closeness is connection.
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.
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.
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.
Some race ahead powered by personal brilliance, others move in sync through trust — and both reveal what we value more: spotlight or solidarity.
Some lead with clarity upward and confusion downward — gaining applause at the top while casting uncertainty beneath.
Some swing endlessly between tasks without landing, while others advance quietly with focus — showing us that not all motion leads to momentum.
Some echo what’s been said, others pause to say what truly matters — revealing the quiet power of reflection in a world addicted to noise.
Some scan every detail to make sure nothing breaks, others chart the horizon to keep everyone moving — but real progress comes from knowing when to switch views.
Some move forward because there’s a task in front of them, others hold back until the purpose is clear — but lasting impact comes from balancing both.
Some treat rules as non-negotiable instructions, others see them as starting points — and the difference lies in how we balance reliability with relevance.
Some stay safe by blending in, others risk rejection by being fully themselves — both revealing how workplaces shape, reward, or resist difference.
Some assert themselves to survive, others adapt to stay safe — and both reveal the subtle strategies we use to navigate power and presence in the workplace.
Some spread tension through quiet whispers, others confront it out loud — both revealing how we manage discomfort and the risks of avoiding or overexposing conflict.
Some generate energy with every jump but rarely land, others move slowly but deliver with clarity — and both reveal how we manage chaos, order, and momentum at work.
Some wait so long they miss the moment; others strike so fast they forget to breathe — both revealing how our timing shapes our impact at work.
Some watch from the sidelines as injustice unfolds, others step into discomfort to protect what's right — and both choices shape the soul of the workplace.
Some do the work while others wear the crown — exposing how power, tradition, and performance distort who gets recognised in the workplace.
Some leaders protect to the point of control, others empower to the point of detachment — both revealing how care, trust, and timing shape growth.
Some talk to fill every silence, others listen to catch what no one else hears — both revealing how we show up in conversations, and what we might be missing.
Day 30: The Predatory Wolf vs. The Protective Dog
Some lead through fear and domination, others create safety and trust — revealing how power is used, and what kind of leaders people actually follow.
Before We Leave the Zoo
As we leave the zoo, we’re reminded that awareness — not perfection — is what transforms the workplace from survival mode to conscious collaboration.
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.