Cats and Dogs in the Office

​Animal references to office behaviours.

Scrappy and Jinx work together at relaxing

 Kevin and I are approaching our sixth month of The Corporate Litterbox.  This is a good time to refresh overall objective of our work.  As mentioned many ramblings ago, there are lots of great tools and resources available on how to be a good, efficient, and profitable Project Manager.  There are lists, spreadsheets, how-to's, however, there are some individuals looking for a more human or personable description of management.  Management is obviously about people.  People relate to stories and animals.  Thus, Kevin the Cat and the Corporate Litterbox.  Kevin had work habits that I could share, and so does Mikey the dog.  This observation presented questions about our society. Is it a Doggy-dog world or a Dog-Eat-Dog?  Or is it full of Cat Fights and Fur Flying?  Which leads to the bigger question:

​Do women behave like cats and men behave like dogs? 

This is a very controversial and highly generalized question which doesn't have a lot of scientific data to answer it at this time.  The overall characteristics from a site www.sciencedirect.ca, observed dogs are "playful, chase-prone, curious, fearless, sociable, and aggressive".  Another site www.phychologytoday.com indicated that cat people are more distinctive that dog people, as cats are considered "graceful, subtle, independent, and thoughtful".  These umbrella traits to describe dogs and cats are oddly reflective of words used to describe male and female friends and coworkers.  Although, cats are more likely to eat each other under extreme environmental conditions then dogs, cats are trusting with only those they are familiar.  Cats are solitary hunters and self-sufficient.  Dogs are pack hunters.  Cats have stealth and agility.  Dogs are bigger and have larger muscles.  Cats are more likely to potty train themselves.  Dogs need to be trained.  Cats have good memory.  Dogs, not so much.   Still seeing a male and female trend.

​The similarities seem strong, but these general personality qualities are not enough evidence to establish a good argument that women behave like cats and men like dogs.  It is more logical that each individual has a preference for the traits of each species, irrelevant of sex.   Good leaders observe their team for different traits and behaviour patterns and try to use them to the advantage of the project.  Individuals who work slow and steady should be put on projects which require that talent.  Perhaps with an impatient intern who needs to learn quality and restraint.   The quick-thinker and aggressive personality - to help push and get work.  If an individual wants to try and change their perceived traits, let them.  They may not succeed at first, they may never want the opportunity again, or they just might excel.  People like to feel individualized and not always generalized, even when playing on a team.

Kevin sometimes acts like a dog.  He actually likes them, and he is interested in playing with them.   I am good with him having days where he acts like a dog and days which he is very "cat".  He is just who he is. 

​Author's Note:
​Apologies if reptiles, rodents, and non-vertebrate are not represented in these posts.  No discrimination is intended.  It is more difficult for the fish to hold a pen and the reptiles keep eating the keyboard.  We are working to find other options where their thoughts on Project Management can be included in our posts.