What Kind of Emerging Eel Leader are You?

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Quiz Questions

1.
When you need to make a decision, you typically:
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- A.
  Make it on your own
- B.
  Use it as an opportunity to train a subordinate
- C.
  Delegate it to an appropriate team member
- D.
  Consult your subordinates for their expertise
- E.
  Try to help everyone get behind your idea for moving forward
- F.
  First question how the decision will affect tasks at hand
2.
When a subordinate takes an action that's less than satisfactory, you:
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- A.
  Seek to understand the circumstances that led to the action
- B.
  Help your employee understand how they could improve next time
- C.
  Let them know their action has a negative consequence
- D.
  Calmly explain to your subordinate what the best course of action was
- E.
  Investigate how the action will impact larger projects
- F.
  Tend to ignore it—it will work itself out
3.
Which of these statements rings the truest with you?
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- A.
  You believe in a “let it lie” policy and know a hands-off approach is best
- B.
  You pride yourself on being a great listener and communicator
- C.
  You’re personally invested in the success of your individual employees
- D.
  You like to have a hand in everything, and need to have the final say
- E.
  You only hire all-stars. You’re pretty sure they’re all smarter than you and that’s a-okay
- F.
  You’re all about goals, deadlines, and doing what it takes to get the job done
4.
When someone does something that pleases you, you:
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- A.
  Listen to what they thought went well and congratulate them
- B.
  Are ready to move on to the next job
- C.
  Hold off on congratulating them and let your incentive structure speak for itself
- D.
  Reinforce the behavior through acknowledgement and encouragement
- E.
  Let them know that their contribution is important to the team
- F.
  Tend to not acknowledge behavior, good or bad
5.
How do you feel about your employees?
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- A.
  As long as they’re getting the job done, you’re happy
- B.
  They must be held to the highest standard
- C.
  They know what’s best for the organization
- D.
  Each has an opportunity to grow personally and professionally within their role
- E.
  Their input is extremely important to the organization’s success
- F.
  They can be persuaded to see your side, if needed
6.
Which of these sounds the most like your perfect workday?
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- A.
  You get to help someone realize their professional goals
- B.
  You get to work as part of the team and collect input from others
- C.
  Everyone does their job correctly
- D.
  You get to spend time conversing with others
- E.
  You don’t have to intervene with anyone’s work
- F.
  A big project crosses the finish line
7.
How would you describe your ideal organizational culture?
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- A.
  Open and communal
- B.
  Warm and inviting
- C.
  Unrestrained and empowered
- D.
  Connected and family-oriented
- E.
  Results-driven and process-oriented
- F.
  Orderly and efficient
8.
If you had to choose a role model from the list below, it would be:
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- A.
  Howard Schult, CEO of Starbucks
- B.
  Indra Nooyi, CEO of PepsiCo
- C.
  Ridley Scott, film director
- D.
  Bill Gates, cofounder of Microsoft and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
- E.
  Ronald Reagan, former president of the United States
- F.
  Warren Buffet, business mogul and philanthropist

Quiz Outcomes

1.
You are the Autocratic Electric Eel!
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Although autocratic leaders might have a bad reputation for not consulting others and being a bit harsh, this leadership style also famously gets stuff done. These leaders want to be involved in every step of a project, and their ability to take charge and keep a clear mind in stressful situations means that decisions are made quickly and well, decisively. Although electric eels can generate an electrical charge of up to 600 volts, they really only use their electric organs for predation and defensive purposes, helping themselves see their surroundings to compensate for poor eyesight. The electric eel is a solitary, nocturnal animal, and it might be best to just let it do its thing.
2.
You are the Democratic Snowflake Moray!
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Democratic leaders are great at bringing a team together and making everyone feel heard. They listen to multiple perspectives and invite input from their team and even the greater organization to help them unearth new ideas and reach consensus before making big decisions. Snowflake Morays are an aquarium favorite for their beauty, with white, yellow, and brown blotched markings resembling “snowflakes” on their bodies, but these eels are also popular because of their agreeable nature. Snowflake morays are reef safe and will not bother corals. They are also compatible with most other invertebrates and even relatively large, often aggressive fish such as lionfish, tangs, and wrasses.
3.
You are the Charismatic Zebra Moray!
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Charismatic leaders have no trouble grabbing the attention of a room, gaining trust in an organization, and inspiring team mates to get on board with their ideas. They’re confident and excellent at taking initiative, and their communication style makes people feel special and motivated. The Zebra Moray gets its name from its eye-catching black and white stripes. As an extremely docile species, it’s an ideal choice for the community fish tank. It commands attention, poses no threat to its tank mates, and is often out and about during the day rather than at night.
4.
You are the Employee-Centered Garden Eel!
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Employee-centered leaders are committed to building relationships, bolstering morale, and creating success for all of their team members. They are concerned with the personal and professional development of their employees, and feel comfortable delegating tasks, and facilitating meetings. Garden eels are known for living in groups and spending the majority of their lives partially embedded in the sea floor. Hundreds, even thousands, of garden eels may live together in a colony and resemble seagrass swaying in the ocean's current --a quirky and mesmerizing display of teamwork.
5.
You are the Laissez-Faire Snake Eel!
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French for “allow to do,” laissez-faire leaders typically remain uninvolved and instead grant their team members the authority to make decisions on their own. Easygoing and hands-off, these leaders delegate tasks and promote a culture of independence, which can be great for teams of well-informed experts who value creativity and freedom. Snake Eels have virtually no fins and resemble the far more dangerous sea snake, which allows them to avoid being bothered. Their slender bodies allow them to sneak in small crevices and holes to wait for prey, but snake eels can also be seen swimming around freely, as they don’t fear many predators.
6.
You are the Task-Centered Tire Track Eel!
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Task-centered leaders are detail-oriented and great at making plans and schedules. They want to make sure things get done and everyone involved understands their responsibilities and stays on track. This kind of leadership style can sometimes lead to team members feeling micromanaged, but there’s no denying the task-centered leader’s ability to facilitate, delegate, and produce quality work. The Tire Track Eel, also known as the Spiny Eel, is prized by many freshwater aquarium hobbyists for its coloration and snake-like appearance. However, these eels are not recommended for the beginner fish keeper because they can be picky and sensitive to change, requiring precise care to get them over their shyness and protect them the parasites and fungus they can be prone to.