The document discusses applying metaphors from the animal kingdom to analyze leadership styles and team behaviors. It presents different "zoo leadership styles" like the lion, eagle, hyena, unicorn, bee, and gibbon, each with different strengths and weaknesses. The document also describes exercises using zoo metaphors to profile team behaviors, understand diversity in context, and analyze how behaviors may differ across circles of influence. The goal is to gain insights into behaviors to enhance performance and outcomes through application of metaphor.

1. Metaphor Behavioural Interactions
The Behaviour of Conversations
Arthur Shelley, Intelligent Answers & OZAN*
Gurteen Knowledge Community Cafe
2nd July 2012
* OZAN is the Organizational Zoo Ambassadors network
An international professional development group collaborating on
application of metaphor to enhance performance outcomes
© Arthur Shelley 2011 under Creative Commons License. Available for public use provided source is
acknowledged. Permission of the author required for commercial use.
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2. Start at the END: why are we here?
Desired
Outcomes
WHY
WHO
VALUE
WHAT
HOW PEOPLE
WHEN
PROCESS
TOOLS Shelley 2011 www.organizationalzoo.com/blog
© Arthur Shelley 2011 under Creative Commons License. Available for public use provided source is
acknowledged. Permission of the author required for commercial use. 2

3. Conversations that Matter
© Arthur Shelley 2011 under Creative Commons License. Available for public use provided source is
acknowledged. Permission of the author required for commercial use.
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4. Zoo Leadership Styles
Lion
Aggressive
Command and Control
Territorial
Charismatic or ego-driven
 Leads by fear
© Arthur Shelley 2011 under Creative Commons License. Available for public use provided source is
acknowledged. Permission of the author required for commercial use.
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5. Zoo Leadership Styles
Eagle
Inspirational
Above the mire
Great long range vision
Rapid action on opportunities
Great instinct
Strategic
 Leads strategically with vision
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source is acknowledged. Permission of the author required for commercial use. 5

6. Zoo Leadership Styles
Hyena
Decision making
Action orientation
Delivery under pressure
Innovative sourcing and
application of resources
 Leads output generation
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source is acknowledged. Permission of the author required for commercial use. 6

7. Zoo Leadership Styles
Unicorn
“Perfect”
Grip on reality?
Reliability?
 Think they lead everyone
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source is acknowledged. Permission of the author required for commercial use. 7

8. Zoo Leadership Styles
Bee
Collaborative
Assumes specific role
Everything for the hive
 Leads teamwork
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source is acknowledged. Permission of the author required for commercial use. 8

9. Zoo Leadership Styles
Gibbon
Social leadership
Morale and enthusiasm
Relationships and culture
Defuse tension
 Leads social capital
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10. Choose your animal appropriately
Behaviour is YOUR choice
The more versatile you can be and the better you understand and relate to
others, the more successful you will be.
© Arthur Shelley 2011 under Creative Commons License. Available for public use provided
source is acknowledged. Permission of the author required for commercial use. 10

11. Conversation 1: Team Behavioural Profiling
• Select 5 characters that contribute positively to team dynamics
• Select 5 characters that negatively impact on team behaviour
• Discuss strengths and weakness of the teams
? ? ? ? ?
? ? ? ? ?
© Arthur Shelley 2011 under Creative Commons License. Available for public use provided
source is acknowledged. Permission of the author required for commercial use. 11

12. Relationships and knowledge transfer
© Arthur Shelley 2011 under Creative Commons License. Available for public use provided
source is acknowledged. Permission of the author required for commercial use. 12

13. Reflective Impact Diary
© Arthur Shelley 2011 under Creative Commons License. Available for public use provided
source is acknowledged. Permission of the author required for commercial use. 13

14. Behavioural DNA perspectives
Positive contribution Negative contribution
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15. Conversation 2: Diversity and
behaviour in context exercise
Core (Expected) Behaviours
Zoo Zoo Zoo Zoo Zoo
Character? Character? Character? Character? Character?
Accepted (Desired) Behaviours
Zoo Zoo Zoo Zoo Zoo
Character? Character? Character? Character? Character?
Tolerated Behaviours
Zoo Zoo Zoo Zoo Zoo
Character? Character? Character? Character? Character?
Rejected (Not tolerated) Behaviours
Zoo Zoo Zoo Zoo Zoo
Character? Character? Character? Character? Character?
© Arthur Shelley 2011 under Creative Commons License. Available for public use provided source is
acknowledged. Permission of the author required for commercial use.
15

16. Example Output: Context Behaviours
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17. Wide range of conversations
Zoo metaphor has been successful applied in:
• Restructures, acquisitions & mergers
• Leadership development & mentoring
• Performance appraisals
• Team forming & storming
• Project review, lessons learnt & risk analysis
• Options assessment and brainstorming
• Reverse brainstorming & creative role plays
• …and more..
© Arthur Shelley 2011 under Creative Commons License. Available for public use provided source is
acknowledged. Permission of the author required for commercial use. 17

18. © Arthur Shelley 2009 under Creative Commons License. Available for public use provided
A fresh view of your organisation
source is acknowledged. Permission of the author required for commercial use. 18

19. Behavioural diversity and Matching
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20. Circles of influence
Do you behave differently in
each of these environments?
What about sub-contexts
within these?
Extended family
FAMILY
YOU
© Arthur Shelley 2011 under Creative Commons License. Available for public use provided source is
acknowledged. Permission of the author required for commercial use. 20

21. Contact
Arthur Shelley
arthur@organizationalzoo.com
FREE behavioural profile
www.organizationalzoo.com/profiler
Insights into behaviours
www.organizationalzoo.com/blog
www.organizationalzoo.com/ZooTube
Consulting and mentoring
www.intelligentanswers.com.au
Ph +61 413 047 408
@Metaphorage
#OrgZoo
© Arthur Shelley 2011 under Creative Commons License. Available for public use provided source is
acknowledged. Permission of the author required for commercial use. 21