By: Brandon Bader Ed.D
Five groups, five shark selections. As someone familiar with saltwater ecosystems, I’ve incorporated some of that knowledge into my selections, but primarily, I’ve focused on the traits needed to construct an effective team. We’ll revisit each group with the descriptions from the preview article at the beginning of Shark Week and explain the reasoning behind each selection.
Bottom Dwellers: The Foundation of the Team
Description: These sharks primarily live and feed on or near the ocean floor. They often feed on benthic organisms such as crabs, mollusks, and small fish.
Analogy: Bottom dwellers are analogous to team members focused on handling foundational or operational tasks within an organization. They thrive in environments where attention to detail and efficiency in handling day-to-day operations are crucial. These team members excel at managing and optimizing processes related to essential tasks such as logistics, administrative duties, and foundational support functions. Their role is fundamental in ensuring the smooth operation and stability of the organization from the ground up.
Selection: Nurse Shark
- Size: Medium to Large
- Temperament: Passive, Social (often in groups)
- Hunting Strategy: Ambush Predator
- Diet: Carnivorous (fish, crustaceans, mollusks)
- Habitat: Coastal, Benthic
- Adaptations: Speed (slow movement)
- Activity Pattern: Nocturnal
Rationale: I selected the nurse shark to begin the build because it has unique traits. While the goal is creating a foundation, and for that, you want stability, not variance, the nurse shark shows growth potential with its size and a methodical presence that handles tasks slowly yet precisely. This makes it the perfect beginning for a solid team foundation.
Scavengers: The Opportunistic Innovators
Description: These sharks feed on dead or decaying organic matter, playing an important role in the ecosystem by helping to clean up the ocean.
Analogy: Scavengers can be likened to team members that excel in identifying and capitalizing on overlooked opportunities or resources within the organization. They are adept at navigating challenges and seizing upon untapped potential, often rejuvenating stagnant projects or processes. Like their role in the ecosystem, these individuals play a crucial part in maintaining organizational cleanliness and efficiency by repurposing underutilized resources and ensuring waste reduction. Their contribution helps streamline operations and foster a sustainable, productive environment.
Selection: Lemon Shark
- Size: Medium to Large
- Temperament: Passive, Social (often in groups)
- Hunting Strategy: Pursuit Predator
- Diet: Carnivorous (fish, crustaceans, mollusks, carrion)
- Habitat: Coastal, Benthic
- Adaptations: Camouflage (yellowish skin)
- Activity Pattern: Diurnal (active during the day), Nocturnal
Rationale: For my scavenger selection, I chose the lemon shark. Similar to the nurse shark, it has growth variance, is passive, and is social. The lemon shark is active during the day and can function at night, providing full coverage for the team’s operations. As a scavenger, it starts its day where the nurse shark leaves off, ensuring a continuous cycle of productivity.
Mesopredators: The Mid-Level Managers
Description: These sharks are mid-level predators that have both predators and prey within the food chain. They often prey on smaller fish and invertebrates but can be hunted by larger sharks and marine mammals.
Analogy: Mesopredators can be likened to mid-level managers or specialists who operate within a dynamic ecosystem of roles and responsibilities. They possess the ability to influence and manage smaller tasks and projects while navigating challenges from both higher management and their own team members. This group plays a crucial role in executing day-to-day operations, ensuring efficiency, and bridging communication between different levels of the organization. They are vital components of the team’s success, balancing the demands of leadership above them and the operational intricacies below, fostering a cohesive and productive environment.
Selection: Oceanic Whitetip Shark
- Size: Medium
- Temperament: Aggressive, Solitary
- Hunting Strategy: Opportunistic Feeder, Scavenger
- Diet: Carnivorous (fish, squid, crustaceans, carrion)
- Habitat: Pelagic
- Adaptations: Buoyancy Control
- Activity Pattern: Diurnal
Rationale: This was a difficult selection. This group represents a core part of management in an organization. The whitetip shark brings a moderate presence, is solitary, and direct in its approach. It complements the nurse and lemon sharks, which are more passive and social. The whitetip shark thrives alone, allowing others to do their core functions, and its pelagic habitat connects well with the benthic zones of the nurse and lemon sharks.
Filter Feeders: The Efficient Processors
Description: These sharks feed on plankton and small marine organisms by filtering large volumes of water through their gills. They play a vital role in the marine ecosystem by helping to maintain the balance of plankton populations.
Analogy: Filter feeders can be likened to those that focus on handling large volumes of routine tasks or processes efficiently. They excel at processing vast amounts of data or operations, extracting essential elements while maintaining balance and order within the organizational ecosystem. Their role is pivotal in ensuring that essential processes and systems remain optimized, contributing significantly to the overall efficiency and stability of the team or organization.
Selection: Megamouth Shark
- Size: Large
- Temperament: Passive, Solitary
- Hunting Strategy: Filter Feeder
- Diet: Planktivorous (plankton, small fish, jellyfish)
- Habitat: Deep Sea, Pelagic
- Adaptations: None specified
- Activity Pattern: Nocturnal
Rationale: Filter feeders are unique as they don’t mirror the traditional image of sharks. They are passive and focus on input/output tasks. The megamouth shark stands out due to its willingness to eat jellyfish, an occasional oceanic nuisance, making it a stabilizing force. It’s a low-risk, high-reward choice for handling routine processes efficiently.
Apex Predators: The Top Achievers
Description: These sharks are at the top of the food chain and have no natural predators. They play a crucial role in maintaining the health of the ocean by controlling the populations of other marine species.
Analogy: Apex predators are akin to top-level achievers on a team — they occupy some of the highest positions in the organizational hierarchy. These individuals are coveted assets, highly sought after for their unparalleled skills and contributions. However, they are also the most challenging to find, acquire, and manage effectively due to their specialized roles and behaviors.
Selection: Bull Shark
- Size: Large
- Temperament: Aggressive, Solitary
- Hunting Strategy: Pursuit Predator, Opportunistic Feeder
- Diet: Carnivorous (fish, dolphins, turtles, birds)
- Habitat: Coastal, Pelagic, Freshwater
- Adaptations: Speed
- Activity Pattern: Diurnal, Crepuscular
Rationale: The bull shark is unique due to its ability to transfer between freshwater and saltwater ecosystems. This unmatched adaptability is like having someone on your team who excels in research and can integrate external data into internal metrics. The bull shark’s ability to operate in two different environments ensures no duplication of work and allows it to maximize its impact on the team.
While there was some thought given to how these sharks would coexist in the actual ocean, the focus here is on how their traits translate to team dynamics. When building your team, whether using this exercise or in real time, focus less on the skills and more on how those skills work together. Evaluating people should go beyond just looking at their capabilities; it should project what they will do in the team’s context.
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Brandon has his doctorate in Human Resource Development and he brings his perspective with a decade of experience coaching volleyball from the youth to collegiate levels. Brandon is also the host of “Outsider Information,” a podcast with the goal of bridging the world of athletics and business.
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