Animal Characteristics

Each of us has a mix of characteristics,
We call these groups, or behavioural styles monkeys, lions, horses and owls.

Lion
tend to be autocratic,
independent and strong willed.
Authoritative and goal-oriented,
Lions leap to challenges,
take decisive action and
seek to dominate the problem-solving process.
Able to cut to the chase,
at their most extreme, Lions are intolerant of other people’s advice and feelings,
wanting immediate results and failing to co-operate.

Best at: Being in Control
Worst social feature: Dictatorial
Response to stressful situation: “If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.”

 

Horse

are caring creatures, 

at the other end of the scale to the Lion. 

They value close personal relationships and 

actively listen to the opinion of others. 

Horses are steady, 

calm and supportive, 

working slowly and 

cohesively while avoiding conflict. 

Qualities of patience, loyalty and 

consideration are the flipside of passivity, 

dependency and indecision.
Best at: Supporting others
Worst social feature: Submissive
Response to stressful situation: “OK, if that’s the way you must have it, we’ll try it.”

 

Monkeys

are sociable and spontaneous beasts, 

jumping rapidly between activities. 

Intuitive and emotional, 

monkeys love to be involved. 

They tend to dream the dramatic, 

taking risks and 

persuading others to follow the rainbow. 

At best they are open and 

enthusiastic visionaries: 

at worst impulsive and 

inconsistent time wasters.
Best at: Socialising
Worst social feature: Confrontational
Response to stressful situation: “Listen you idiot, I’m fed up with the way you’re treating me.”

 

Owls

attend to detail and 

tend to have serious personalities. 

Persistence is more important than imagination or deadlines. 

Driven by data, owls are intellectual, 

structured and organised animals, 

devoted to ‘getting it right’. 

Cautious and compliant with authority, 

they like to work methodically through objective tasks 

in a controlled environment. 

This can make them resentful in the face of change.
Best at: Processes and Systems
Worst social feature: Withdrawn
Response to stressful situation: “I can’t help you any further - do what you want.”

 

If you know your own characteristics, 

you can accentuate strengths and minimise weaknesses. 

If you are a horse, be more assertive and 

really work on the eye contact; 

if a lion, show that you are listening. 

Owls should try to be open-minded and 

demonstrate attentive body language. 

Monkeys need to concentrate and appear businesslike.