Be an Animal - Elevate Your Relationship

The Animal Wheel Model of Behavior is metaphorical framework that illustrates personality and behavioral styles through the lens of associated animals archetypes. While the model encompasses a range of animals, Evy Poumpouras' inspiring keynote at Gartner's SRM summit represented four distinct animals and linked them to general human behavior and physiology. 

Evy highlighted four central archetypes: the Lion, T-Rex, Monkey, and Mouse. Each representing unique behaviors and traits, strengths, and potential challenges. These animal personas offer a relatable and insightful approach to understanding how individuals respond to situations, communicate, and make decisions, both personally and professionally.

Each of the archetypes offers an opportunity and challenge that is essential in any stimulation awareness success, recognizing our own tendencies and learning from others. Key takeaways and insights incorporated in the instinctual behavior and intentional action.

The Lion – Commanding with Confidence

The lion's core traits and behavioral style center around natural leadership, assertiveness, and decisive. Lions are often seen as courageous and strong-willed, typically setting the agenda and driving forward with purpose. However, this powerful precence can also come with challenges since lions can be impatient, dogmatic, or ridged in their approach. When two lions share the space, tension and conflict can easily arise due to completing dominance. 

To be an effective leader, strength must be complemented by strong listening skills and emotional intelligence. Building trust, repour, and genuine connection is essential. Dismissing those with varying viewpoints can limit perspectives and hinder growth. Often, alternative voices offer valuable balance and insight that even strong leaders can learn to benefit from.

The Mouse – Quiet Strength in Observation

Conversely, a mouse embodies thoughtfulness, modesty, conflict-aversion, and keen observation. While these qualities are valuable, they can also lead to struggles with assertiveness, resulting in overly passivity, hesitation, and the risk of being overlooked or unheard. Often, the lack of voicing opinions stems from a desire to avoid being wrong or to shield oneself from potential judgement.

Yet, the mouse's quiet approach is a strength since one remains patient and attentive, reading the room, assessing dynamics, and gathering insights before making a move. This deliberate behavior is a powerful asset when timed to provide subtle influence that matters the most. 

The T-Rex – Power Without Pause

The T-Rex personality is charactered by directness, forcefulness, and display of dominance when aligned with self-awareness. While this quick thinking and action-oriented behavior can convey command, it can also veer into aggressiveness, punitive, and portray sarcasm. The tendencies can single lack of empathy and dismissive attitude towards collaboration, and ultimately damage trust, morale, and stifle creativity. 

If seeking input from others is not part of your repertoire or if you have a tendency to interrupt or shut people down, you could be intentionally burning bridges. Hence, if that is your intent, then be honest about it however, recognize that true leadership also requires listening, adapting, and building other up.

The Monkey – Energy with a Need for Focus

The fourth animal is the monkey which is known for their enthusiasm, curiosity, and sociable nature. Monkeys bring energy, levity, ability to ease tension, and often forming connections with ease.

However, the impulsive tendencies can be lead to distraction, a lack of focus, and challenges with follow through. This portrays the impression of being unreliable if not grounded. The key to channeling this charisma is leading with intention. Avoiding stereotypical over-the-top salesperson with over pitched substance so instead strive for authentic and balance engagement.

Life is ultimately about balance and demonstrating the right behavior at the right moment, whether that in workplace environments, meetings, or everyday interactions. Your response can set you apart and earn the respect that should be cultivated instead of demanded or taken for granted. Along the journey, having a clear sense of mission and purpose helps ground your beliefs and sustain your pursuit of meaningful goals. Understanding the dynamics behind the these four behavioral archetypes enables us to stay focused and avoid distractions or derailing from our goal. As the old adage goes, leave your ego at the door. This mindset enables clear thinking, sustained attention, and decisive leadership while nurturing relationships that matter most.

Concluding with an intriguing quote from Evy's presentation, "if you're easily offended, then you're easily manipulated."