Famous Office Tigers (And What You Can Learn From Them)

In the concrete jungle, the office tiger is king. Driven, passionate, and aggressive, the office tiger is a go-getter with a bite that backs up a big growl. His predator-like instinct makes him quick to complete tasks and goals, and nothing gets his blood pumping like the thrill of work.

He executes plans and projects with determination and precision. Focused and powerful, the office tiger is usually a big ball of energy that’s ready to pounce and tough to keep up with. For a closer look, check out these three famous office tigers in their natural habitats.

Hell’s Kitchen’s Gordon Ramsay
Chef Gordon Ramsay is the star of Fox’s reality cooking competition, “Hell’s Kitchen.” Each week, teams compete in rigorous culinary challenges to see who can survive the intense pressure of a fast-paced kitchen. While ambitious hopefuls scramble to win his approval, Ramsay is busy overseeing their efforts with a critical eye. And, if the heat of the stove doesn’t have them sweating, Ramsay soon will. Efficient and talented, Ramsay knows his job and works hard to get things done. But, he doesn’t know how to control the torrent of insults and obscenities he throws at contestants when something goes wrong. Employee dignity is always on the menu in this tiger’s kitchen. Watch as he serves up another victim.

Most employees aren’t motivated by fear or intimidation, and Ramsay’s tendency to berate his staff causes anxiety, discord, and dysfunction between his teams. If an employee’s performance frustrates you, remember to keep your cool – no matter how hot the situation gets – because venting your aggravation at employees is counterproductive. Instead, handle every situation with decorum and professionalism. And, build your team up with encouragement and constructive direction to lead them to succeed.

The Soprano’s Tony Soprano
Boss of New Jersey’s most powerful crime family on the HBO original drama series “The Sopranos,” Tony Soprano juggles numerous criminal organizations while moonlighting as a waste management consultant. Control, respect, and reputation are everything in his world, and he has to keep them at all costs. And, when something or someone threatens his reputation, he goes in for the kill – literally. No one is off limits. A lesson his best friend, his nephew, and his cousin learned the hard way, and proof that Tony Soprano would risk it all to keep the control.

As a leader, you’re often forced to make difficult decisions. Before you do, be sure to weigh the cost and take the time to determine the best solution. Remember that you can’t control everything, so change the things you can and accept the things you can’t. And, while respect and reputation are important, they should never be gained at the expense of doing what’s right. Have the reputation for living by your principles, values, and ethics, and you will never want for respect from your team or your company.

30 Rock’s Jack Donaghy
Next to Tony Soprano, he may seem like a cub, but don’t be fooled, 30 Rock’s fictional character, Jack Donaghy, is no kitten. If the title of his autobiography, Jack Attack: The Art of Aggression in Business, doesn’t convince you he’s a tiger, his work experience will. After an impoverished and unhappy childhood, Jack worked his way through an Ivy League education by working “the day shift at a graveyard, and the graveyard shift at a Days Inn.” Disciplined and driven from the start, Jack loves work. Now a vice president of East Coast Television, even Jack’s hobbies sound like hard work. He has hunted polar bears with a bow and arrow, climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, and even practiced martial arts with Chuck Norris. Work is Jack’s life and when he comes face to face with a near death experience, his tiger tendencies demonstrate a missing balance in his life.

Tigers are often dedicated and focused leaders who love to work. But, it’s important to remember there’s much more to life. Take the time to enjoy your life and the people in it. Spend a little time away from work when you can, whether it’s on a vacation or just a ten-minute break to step outside. Getting away from work can keep you from burning out and will give you new perspectives and insights you can use to build your team and reach your goals. Life outside of work can inspire you and renew and refocus your concentration and strength, so take time to stop, breathe, and live.

Hopefully, your leadership instinct isn’t a mirror image of these famous office tigers, but if you find yourself living for work, getting easily frustrated at your employees, or struggling with the things you can’t control, it’s may be time to tame the tiger in you. Join us for the Leadership Instinct Simulcast to find out how.

About this Series
As we gear up for the May 5 Leadership Instinct Simulcast, join us each week at www.RefreshLeadership.com to explore the different leadership styles of some of television’s most extreme characters in business. We’ll track office tigers, foxes, chameleons, and ostriches through the jungles of television’s sitcoms, dramas, and reality shows to get a closer look at the funny, dramatic, bizarre, and sometimes scary side of our leadership instincts. So, be on the lookout to see the famous bosses who share your leadership instinct style. Want to know your leadership instinct? Visit www.Myleadershipinstinct.com, and take the quiz to find out.

Please note, the video clips herein do not necessarily represent the views of Express and are used for educational purposes only.