Helping leaders motivate their people to a higher level of performance through strong human relations, team building, and golachieving. This is the seven Minute Leadership Podcast with your host Paul fella Aledo. Hello everyone, and welcome to the seven Minute Leadership Podcast. It's episode four ninety nine. Have you ever walked into work and thought to yourself, Wow, this place feels like a zoo. And I don't mean it as
an insult. Think about it for a second, because you've said it, or you've heard someone else refer to work as a zoo. But a zoo is a collection of very different animals, all with different personalities, strengths, quirks, and needs. You've got the lions, loud, bold and always wanting to be seen. You've got the elephants steady, dependable, and they
remember every single thing you've ever said or done. You've got the monkeys energetic, always cracking jokes, sometimes helpful, sometimes distracting. And then you have the turtles, slow to move, cautious, but when they commit, they always get there. Now, tell me that doesn't sound like your workplace, So let's have some fun with this episode. Welcome to the zoo. As a leader, you don't just run a department. You run
a zoo. Every day, you're the zookeeper, the one responsible for keeping the gates closed, making sure the feedings happen on time, and ensuring the lions don't eat the penguins. And here's the serious part. If you don't know how to manage the zoo, chaos breaks out. So how do you manage it? Let's break it down. First, you have to know your animals. Every team member has a style, a rhythm, and a personality. Too many leaders make the
mistake of trying to make everyone act the same. That's like trying to get a giraffe to act like a gorilla. It's not going to happen. Instead, figure out what each person naturally brings to the table and then assign work that matches their strengths. Second, you have to feed them. Right in a zoo, each animal has a diet. Some eat meat, some eat plants, some eat a mix. Your people need the right kind of recognition, motivation, and guidance.
Some thrive on public praise, others prefer a private pat on the back. Some want detailed instructions, others just want the freedom to roam. If you feed everyone the exact same way, you'll have some starving for attention in others overstuffed with micromanagement. Third, keep the fences in place. Boundaries are critical. Zoos without fences are just dangerous parks. Your rules, standards,
and expectations are the fences. They protect your people from harm, they prevent chaos, and they ensure the whole organization doesn't go off the rails. When you don't enforce boundaries, that's when the monkeys start stealing everyone's lunch. In Fourth, remember the guests are watching. A zoo exists for the public. Your organization exists for customers, clients, or the community, no matter how wild it gets behind the scenes. When people
are watching, your team must present professionalism. It doesn't mean hiding the truth, but it does mean showing discipline and pride in what you do. And finally, take care of the zookeeper that's you. Running a zoo is exhausting. Your breaking up fights between the lions and the hyaenas, keeping the slow moving, and convincing the parrots to stop repeating gossip they overheard in the break room. If you don't take care of yourself, you'll burn out fast. Self care
is an optional. It's survival. So the next time you feel like you're in the middle of a zoo, don't get frustrated, look around and laugh a little, because leadership really is like running a zoo. The animals are unpredictable, the days are long, and there's always a mess to clean up. But at the end of the day, a well run zoo is an incredible place. It's where the wild works together, where people come to see something amazing, and where everyone from the lions to the turtles has
a place. Welcome to the zoo. You're the zoo keeper. Lead it well. This has been the seven minute Leadership podcast and I thank you for listening. For more Paul Fellovlito podcast, visit paulfellowalito dot com.