We're often led to believe that offering forgiveness to someone who has wronged us is only of benefit to the other person. In reality, it's quite the opposite! Today we discuss the vast difficulty and subtle-but-powerful benefits of forgiveness. www.patreon.com/aquatizoo l.semple@magicalvacationplanner.com www.magicalvacationplanner.com...
It may seem smooth and flawless when an aquarium or zoo professional appears in an interview or speaks on behalf of the institution, but there's a lot of preparation that goes into these sorts of activities. It's made to look easy! www.patreon.com/aquatizoo l.semple@magicalvacationplanner.com www.magicalvacationplanner.com...
Despite what we're often taught when we're young, it's not necessarily a linear progression upwards through our career that should be desired or expected. Today, we discuss the many ways a person can grow in their work without attaining a new title or salary. www.patreon.com/aquatizoo l.semple@magicalvacationplanner.com www.magicalvacationplanner.com...
Aquariums and zoos regularly go out into the world with educational materials, animals, and artifacts to help people learn well outside the boundaries of their institutions. Today, we discuss how and why this is done, and what impact it might carry for the community. www.patreon.com/aquatizoo l.semple@magicalvacationplanner.com www.magicalvacationplanner.com...
It could be healthy, it could be troubled, it could be positive, it could be ineffective. There are many ways that workplace culture can be evaluated, monitored, and changed... no matter your position! www.patreon.com/aquatizoo l.semple@magicalvacationplanner.com www.magicalvacationplanner.com
Do you happen to know the organizational structure of your favorite zoo or aquarium? You may think that's an odd question to ask, but if you've never considered it before, you might find the answers interesting. Let's discuss the many ways these facilities might be running and who could be making decisions at the top! www.patreon.com/aquatizoo l.semple@magicalvacationplanner.com www.magicalvacationplanner.com...
Have you ever had that feeling that you've somehow fooled everyone into thinking that you're capable and confident and can handle all sorts of new challenges? Most of us have, and it can be a difficult issue to handle. How we cope with this ugly inner voice can indicate just how talented we really are! www.patreon.com/aquatizoo l.semple@magicalvacationplanner.com www.magicalvacationplanner.com...
Brought to mind by a recent story in the news, it's important to remember why zoos and aquariums must be so vigilant when bringing skilled workers and external companies into the mix to provide needed goods and services. Today, we discuss best practices in keeping everyone alert, responsible, and safe. www.patreon.com/aquatizoo l.semple@magicalvacationplanner.com www.magicalvacationplanner.com...
The wild job market right now in the USA has impact on zoos and aquariums. How should we proceed? Today, we discuss evaluating our positions and how to retain and entice employees. It starts with treating one another with respect and dignity. www.patreon.com/aquatizoo l.semple@magicalvacationplanner.com www.magicalvacationplanner.com...
Did you know that there are programs run through AZA with the help of many zoos, aquariums, researchers, business partners, and concerned citizens to address the challenges that animals face in their natural habitats? Today we discuss the AZA SAFE programs and their impact in the natural world. https://www.aza.org/aza-safe www.patreon.com/aquatizoo l.semple@magicalvacationplanner.com www.magicalvacationplanner.com...
There are times when disagreements get pretty heated, but it's not appropriate to raise your voice at work. Some people struggle to communicate without yelling and today we discuss why it's important to maintain your calm and how you might accomplish it. www.patreon.com/aquatizoo l.semple@magicalvacationplanner.com www.magicalvacationplanner.com...
People in animal care jobs are expected to hone their skills and keep up with the latest technology and practices. Today we discuss how we know where to look to find those learning opportunities and why we and our institutions should consider ongoing learning important. www.aza.org www.aazk.org www.patreon.com/aquatizoo l.semple@magicalvacationplanner.com www.magicalvacationplanner.com...
One of the most important things institutions can do for a new hire is a thorough and thoughtful onboarding process. It might sound boring, but it's time well spent for all of those involved. No one likes to be lost and uninformed at work! www.patreon.com/aquatizoo l.semple@magicalvacationplanner.com www.magicalvacationplanner.com...
It can be quite a challenge to introduce animals to one another in hopes that they get along. Today we discuss the why and how we might play matchmakers. It's a more complicated process than you might expect and things don't always go according to plan. www.patreon.com/aquatizoo l.semple@magicalvacationplanner.com www.magicalvacationplanner.com...
It's important to take a step back and look at what you've accomplished, whether the results were what you were expecting or not. This is how we learn. This is how we improve. This is how we build trust with our teams! Celebrate the good and the bad in the workplace because there's always something to learn. www.patreon.com/aquatizoo l.semple@magicalvacationplanner.com www.magicalvacationplanner.com...
There's a group of animals at aquariums and zoos that have the special job of interacting with the public. How do we manage them? What sort of training might they have? Let's discuss the importance of animal ambassadors! www.patreon.com/aquatizoo l.semple@magicalvacationplanner.com www.magicalvacationplanner.com
It's so difficult to work with someone that you don't really like. It's worth it to your career, mental health, and to your coworkers to make an effort to try and work together regardless. It's not easy, but it is impactful and a personal triumph to take that high road. www.patreon.com/aquatizoo l.semple@magicalvacationplanner.com www.magicalvacationplanner.com...
Does it matter what a customer or guest thinks of your institution and its practices? Of course it does! Today, we discuss the sorts of things that aquariums and zoos think about and plan for when it comes to making sure that our guests' perception is positive. www.patreon.com/aquatizoo l.semple@magicalvacationplanner.com www.magicalvacationplanner.com...
Part of the challenge of working with others is open communication. It's not always so easy to establish a trusting relationship, but there are ways to invite others to talk and open up to you so that you can begin building those very important connections! www.patreon.com/aquatizoo l.semple@magicalvacationplanner.com www.magicalvacationplanner.com...
One of the sometimes overlooked members of a zoo or aquarium's staff is the public relations person. What might they be doing? How hard could it be? Today we discuss the importance and the challenges of public relations in aquariums and zoos. www.patreon.com/aquatizoo l.semple@magicalvacationplanner.com www.magicalvacationplanner.com...
Change is hard. We all know it. If you've ever been curious as to how to go about making changes in a workplace where you have newfound influence or authority, we're going to figure it out together! www.patreon.com/aquatizoo www.magicalvacationplanner.com l.semple@magicalvacationplanner.com
There's a lot of thought and preparation that goes into the decisions about what animals at aquariums and zoos will eat. Where will the food come from? How much will there be? How is it prepared? If you've ever wondered what's going on in the kitchen, we discuss it today! www.patreon.com/aquatizoo www.magicalvacationplanner.com l.semple@magicalvacationplanner.com...
If you've ever found yourself ready to leave your current job, how might you decide where to go? An often overlooked option is a lateral move with a new facility when it's so tempting to go for a promotion. We talk pros and cons of strategic career moves and hope we come out mentally at peace in the end! www.patreon.com/aquatizoo www.magicalvacationplanner.com l.semple@magicalvacationplanner.com...
We work in animal care institutions and need a very specialized person to help us with animal emergencies and medical knowledge. How does being a veterinarian in an AZA accredited zoo or aquarium work? What challenges might they face? How do they tend to all of those cool animals? www.patreon.com/aquatizoo www.magicalvacationplanner.com l.semple@magicalvacationplanner.com...
We all have bad days and struggle with tasks on occasion. How does a good leader cope with these challenges when dealing with a seemingly unwilling coworker? It's not about you, it's about them! Put those great leadership skills to work! If you're interested in supporting the podcast: www.patreon.com/aquatizoo www.magicalvacationplanner.com l.semple@magicalvacationplanner.com...
They're perhaps not my proudest moments, but they're learning opportunities nonetheless! Please feel free to chuckle and educate yourself using the mistakes I've made in the course of my career. If I can save someone a little heartache or embarrassment, it's worth the trouble! www.patreon.com/aquatizoo l.semple@magicalvacationplanner.com www.magicalvacationplanner.com...
It's never easy or fun to have a failure on your hands, but it's going to happen to all of us at some point. How can you prepare? How do you avoid it? How can you rebound with grace, wisdom, and gratitude? www.patreon.com/aquatizoo l.semple@magicalvacationplanner.com www.magicalvacationplanner.com
Did you know that zookeepers and aquarists make and modify lots of tools and household items to more easily accomplish our work? Today we discuss why that might be necessary and what sort of things might we need to make. Discover the obscure and sometimes funny creations of the animal care community! www.patreon.com/aquatizoo www.magicalvacationplanner.com
It might seem superfluous and unnecessary, but you'd be surprised how much a little attention paid to yourself can do. I certainly was! It is important to pay attention to the very subtle signs that we or those around us might need a break. www.patreon.com/aquatizoo www.magicalvacationplanner.com
Volunteers are a blessing! There's nothing but love and respect for the generous people who freely offer up their time and energy to our facilities. It can be a challenge to remember how to delicately handle these marvelous individuals, so here's a reminder!
