Day 29: The Chattering Macaw vs. The Attentive Bat
Some light up the room with their voices, while others tune into it with quiet precision. In between those frequencies lies a crucial choice: Are we filling the space, or actually connecting?
Yesterday, we explored two ways of nurturing others: the Protective Bear, who shields, and the Detached Turtle, who trusts early. Today, we step into the realm of communication, not just what we say but how we show up in conversations.
Because in every workplace, there are those who speak to be seen… and those who listen to see more deeply.
🦜 The Chattering Macaw
You hear them before you see them — always ready with a story, a joke, an opinion, or an enthusiastic “Just to build on that…”
Their energy is infectious, and their presence fills the room. They’re the life of the meeting, the heartbeat of the open-plan office, and the go-to for sparking conversation or breaking awkward silences.
The Macaw thrives in dialogue — but more often, it’s a monologue.
They love the sound of their own clarity. They respond quickly, often passionately, and rarely leave a pause unfilled. Silence makes them anxious. They assume energy equals engagement, and visibility means value.
But in their eagerness to contribute, they often miss the deeper current — the thing that wasn’t said, the quiet voice that never got space, the colleague who needed just three more seconds to formulate their thought.
Their gift? Bringing colour to every conversation. Their risk? Painting over what others were trying to say.
🦇 The Attentive Bat
You might not notice the Bat at first — and that’s the point.
They don’t interrupt. They don’t jump in. They sit in corners of meetings, listening intently, catching every nuance. While others rush to speak, they tune into tone, pacing, body language — hearing what’s spoken and what’s withheld.
They are often the first to sense tension, spot inconsistency, and ask questions that no one realises need to be asked.
But their silence is a double-edged sword.
Their insight can go unshared, their ideas unvoiced, and their perception unused—not because it lacks value but because it was never brought into the open.
They’re not disengaged, far from it. They’re just waiting for the right moment. Sometimes, too long.
Their gift? Deep understanding. Their risk? Invisibility.
🔍 The Reflection
The Macaw and the Bat are both fully present, just on different frequencies.
One radiates outward, sometimes overpowering others in the process. The other absorbs everything, but may vanish if they never speak up.
Effective communication isn’t about talking more or listening harder. It’s about knowing when to do which, and leaving room for both.
So ask yourself: Are you dominating the dialogue, or leaving space for others to breathe? Are you holding insights in silence… that your team actually needs to hear?
And what would change if we all learned to switch frequencies — even for a moment?
📌 Did You Know?
Macaws are among the most vocal birds in the animal kingdom, using their calls to signal identity, emotion, and territory. Their bright colours and constant chatter make them hard to miss, but they are also prone to dominating their environment, often at the expense of quieter species nearby.
Bats, meanwhile, rely on echolocation — a form of deep listening. They emit signals, then interpret echoes to build a full picture of their surroundings. It’s less flashy, but far more precise. Yet because their presence is mostly silent, they’re often misunderstood or overlooked.
In the workplace, we carry both instincts. But real connection comes from balancing the voice and the ear — the spotlight and the silence.
📚 References
Zenger, J. & Folkman, J. (2016). “The Best Leaders Are Great Listeners” – Harvard Business Review
Brown, B. (2018). Dare to Lead
Goleman, D. (2006). Social Intelligence
Covey, S. R. (1989). The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
Gearhart, S. (2019). “Listening as Leadership” – Journal of Business Communication
