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What the Tiger Can Teach Us in the New Year
In the year 2022, we say farewell to the steady Ox and welcome in the fierce Tiger. We know the tiger as a magnificent creature, the largest cat in the world, with its trademark black stripes against its orange coat. The tiger is an apex predator, standing at the top of the food chain in its own natural habitat.
For those who set their new year’s resolutions to be braver, bolder, and more confident when it comes to navigating the workplace, why not pick up some tips from the ferocious tiger?
Two curious young ones and a mum who has seen it all.
Tiger Fact #1: Tigers are born blind
Even the tiger has humble beginnings. The tiger cub is born blind and is completely dependent on its mother for the first few months of its life. Only when it is seventeen to twenty-four months old does the tiger gain full independence and start to venture out on its own.
Like the tiger, we all start somewhere. In a new job, don’t be too hard on yourself if you are struggling. Don’t be afraid to learn from those more experienced than you before you find your footing. Eventually, you will be able to stand on your own two feet and venture out into the wild yourself.
By the time you see them coming, it’s too late.
Tiger Fact #2: Tigers are silent hunters
The tiger’s method of hunting is to stalk and ambush its prey, rather than chase them down like the lion or cheetah. The tiger’s trademark stripes are an example of disruptive coloration, where the stripes help to break up the tiger’s shape and size and allows the tiger to blend in with trees and grasses. Most of their prey—deer and other hoofed animals—are colour blind and can only see a limited range of colours so the tiger’s orange coat appears green to them, making it hard for them to spot the tiger when it is hiding.
While we know the tiger to be a ferocious hunter, they are also a master of stealth and patience. Take a leaf out of the tiger’s book: watch, learn, and wait for the right moment instead of rushing into things when it comes to new opportunities.
“Kua simi?”
Tiger Fact #3: Each tiger’s stripes are unique
The stripes of a tiger are like the fingerprints of a person—each one is unique to the individual. Furthermore, the stripes of a tiger do not only appear on their fur but also on their skin so even if you shave them down, their stripes will still appear on their body.
Own your stripes! Don’t be afraid to be different from the others. Everyone has their unique traits and that is what sets us apart from each other. Rather than be self-conscious about your differences, think of them as something that makes you special. After all, in this whole world, there is only one of you.
Even big cats need their naps.
Tiger Fact #4: Tigers are independent cats
The tiger is a solitary creature. In the wild, you hardly see tigers live in a group. The tiger hunts alone and occupies a territory of its own to minimise competition for prey with other tigers. However, this does not mean that the tiger is never seen in the company of its own kind. Occasionally, tigers do form groups if the size of their territory is small, which means that there is limited room for solitude, or if prey is abundant in that territory, which means no risk of competing for limited resources.
Independence is a trait that everyone should have. While a workplace will always consist of a group of people who come together to fulfil a common goal, it is important to be able to work on your own and be responsible for your own tasks. By ensuring that you can get your own affairs in order, this means that when you work with others in a group, you are able to fulfil your own responsibilities and contribute to the larger picture.
“Meow.”
Tiger Fact #5: Tigers are great communicators
Tigers cannot purr but they can make a variety of other sounds such as grunting, growling, roaring, moaning, snarling, hissing, chuffing, and gasping. They roar to intimidate prey and rival tigers, and chuff to greet friendly tigers. Tigers can even imitate the sounds of other animals to lure prey to them and set an ambush.
The tiger teaches us the importance of being versatile communicators. In different situations and to different people, it is imperative to be able to communicate clearly using the right tone. How you speak to your colleague might be completely different from how you should speak to your boss or a client. That doesn’t mean that your colleague is worthy of any less respect but simply that the way you speak to them may come off as more casual and informal as compared to when you speak to the latter two.
In the year of the tiger, why not learn a thing or two from the tiger?
Want to pick up more tips on improving yourself in the workplace? Check out our Career Resources page.
