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Volume 22, Number 23 Copyright 2005 Business Book Review, LLC All Rights Reserved

Lion Taming
Working Successfully with Leaders, Bosses and Other Tough Customers

Steven L. Katz
2004 Steven L. Katz Adapted by permission of Sourcebooks, Inc. ISBN: 1-4022-0217-2

Reviewed by Sharon Baldwin Sittner

Introduction
What images come to mind when you hear the word lion? King of the jungle? Survival of the fittest? Kill or be killed? Man Eater? Lions are positioned at the top of the food chain in the their natural habitat. In Lion Taming, Steven Katz, former advisor to four U.S. senators and senior advisor to leaders and executives spanning the realms of business, non-profits, politics, and government, uses the analogy of the lion to explain the behavior of those who wield power, authority, and influence in the workplace, and of the lion tamer to illustrate how to work effectively and successfully with these mighty beasts. Katz supplies numerous examples of lion taming both in the circus and in the business world, explaining the techniques and skills necessary to work with the king of the jungle and then applying them to situations in which workers at all levels find themselves at one time or another whether it is in the office, a clients office, the boardroom, or an informal one-on-one with an immediate supervisor or the CEO.
Business Book Review Vol. 22, No. 23 Copyright 2005 Business Book Review, LLC All Rights Reserved

Lion Taming

Steven L. Katz

PART I: LIONS ARE NEVER TAME

Lions in the workplace are those who wield power, responsibility, and authority. They are CEOs, elected officials, top executives, owners, and partners; but they are also managers at all levels, colleagues, clients, and customers. Lions roam freely across all professions and businesses, as well as through our You have probably seen more than a few lions in the workplace personal lives. Anyone working in and heard them roar. They are the people all around us with any organization can assume he/ power, responsibility, authority, talent not to mention the people she is already positioned in the who may simply be preoccupied with gaining more power and steel cage, the arena in which the authority. lion tamer is called on to perform. Learning to distinguish who the are fundamentally different from the rest of us and are, lions are, to recognize both their strengths and weaknesses, seemingly, full of enigmas. Some ostensibly incongruent and to understand their inherent traits and instinctive traits in the workplace lion are: projecting dominance but behaviors can mean the difference between personal and/or always needing to know where they stand; displaying a professional success and disaster. tough exterior but interpreting actions personally; being Lions are a fundamental necessity in any company or creatures of habit who react quickly to new developments; organization. They have what it takes to face challenges preferring to act instinctively even if they have to prepare in head-on, to lead in new directions, to become great leaders, advance to do so; and being approachable and appreciated and to use their strength, power, or position to recognize one-on-one while acting haughty and distant in a group. and seize opportunity . . . and then to pounce. Accomplished lion tamers recognize these behaviors Recognizing lions is often easy - they are the people as being inherent to the species, and their success working at the top of the organizational food chain. The first step with lions lies in respecting these differences and learning to working effectively with lions, whether in the animal to work with them rather than fighting against them. kingdom or in the workplace, however, is to recognize Imagine, for instance, how differently you would approach that they are a different species. Katz quotes a particularly a situation if you had to face a real lion when called to the astute lion tamer (of the animal variety) as saying, I know CEOs office! that I am about to enter a cage full of lions, and I think Whether working with lions under the Big Top or

carefully about it before, during, and after I go in. But people in businesses and organizations dont quite see that, do they? They are more likely to get caught flat-footed just when someone who is a lion is coming at them! Working successfully with lions in the human world means, first and foremost, recognizing and acknowledging that they

About the Author

Steven L. Katz, has worked for more than twenty years as a right-hand executive and senior advisor to leaders and executives spanning the realms of business, politics, government and non-profit organizations. From Capitol Hill and the White House to boardrooms, clients, and customers, the author has developed the art of lion taming and added it to the skills in the workplace. Steven L. Katz has degrees in anthropology, history, and law. He lives with his family outside Washington, D.C. For more information, please visit: www.liontaming.com

in the board room, the rules are the same: 1) recognize that lions are a different species; 2) respect their power; 3) recognize the ever-present danger; 4) pay attention; 5) always maintain visual contact; 6) keep your mind on the lion at all times; 7) remain alert; 8) be determined; and 9) patience is essential. In addition, the following four traits common to lions in the wild and in the workplace are equally important to acknowledge and bear in mind when working with lions of the two-legged variety: needing to maintain dominance and feel secure in their dominance; needing to control territory and always remaining fine-tuned to when and how to preserve, protect, and expand it; understanding where they stand in the social hierarchy; and always being fine-tined to any potential threat to their survival. A similar list of rules for working with office lions would include: 1) act quickly and decisively; 2) avoid feeling
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Business Book Review Vol. 22, No. 23 Copyright 2005 Business Book Review, LLC All Rights Reserved

Lion Taming

Steven L. Katz

powerless and subservient; 3) demonstrate the strength and tenacity to tackle the task at hand; 4) become an ally to the lion without becoming an enemy of your co-workers; 5) create opportunities to be beneficial; 6) establish a foundation for working together; 7) make the lion successful in new ways that advance his or her business objectives or goals; and 8) provide candid but respectful and constructive feedback. Being a lion in the workplace is more a state of mind than a specific position, and it may be a state of mind very much different from your own. As in the animal kingdom, there are good and bad lions, and making the distinction between the two at the office is imperative. Real lion tamers learn to make this distinction quickly and would never choose to put their lives at risk by working with a particularly difficult or aggressive lion. Naturalist George Schaller describes bad lions in the wild as despots who take what they want whose existence lacks all subtlety. In the business world the same

communication about change, sharing information, and rewarding performance. The successful organizational lion tamer distinguishes between good and bad lions and actively seeks out opportunities to work with the good and to avoid the bad. Just as a real lion tamer refuses to work with bad lions, lion tamers in the workplace need to explore ways to work with lions in a way that is proactive and productive, distinguishing between the behaviors necessary to being an effective lion (i.e., passion, charisma, an inflated ego) and those which are self-serving and destructive, and then developing opportunities to work with the former and avoid the latter. In order to be a lion tamer, it is necessary to get into the lions skull to understand their perceptions and thoughts. The most important thing to remember about lions, including those at the office, is that make a simple and instinctive decision the minute any living thing comes into their sights - it is either prey, which People instinctively run so fast from the lions in the workplace they will eat; the enemy, which they that they never distinguish the good lions from the bad. Real lion will kill; or the ignored, which they tamers make that distinction quickly so should you! will treat with arrogant disregard. In the wild, being in the category of ignored reputation of a bad lion often precedes him or her. We all is the safer position; however, falling into this category in know or have heard of bad lions in the workplace. Some the workplace is much more prevalent, more challenging of the warning signs might be frequent displays of anger to deal with, and can be deadly to a lion tamers livelihood. and bullying behavior, an unwillingness to admit mistakes, In order to work closely and effectively with the lions, lion manipulative and demeaning treatment of others the tamers must make a conscious decision to communicate list could go on and on. Katz warns that in order to work with the lions at the lions level, convenience, and style productively with leaders, bosses, and others, it is critical in order to establish the one-on-one rapport and mutual to seek out the good lions, those who recognize that your respect necessary to becoming a trusted member of the skills and abilities will enable them to become successful organization. in new ways. As Katz puts it, Do not enter a job blindly, and do not remain in one blindly. PART II: THE ART OF LION TAMING On the other hand, good lions can be recognized by In lion taming circus acts, the number of accidents the qualities of leadership and character such as: leading suffered is in direct proportion to the lion tamers by example, admitting to and correcting mistakes, being attentiveness. The same is true in the workplace. Identifying accountable to the organization and the people in it, the lions in the workplace and positioning yourself in the demonstrating commitment through active involvement, role of lion tamer is a useful tool to gain the intellectual allowing staff the freedom to test and discover, and setting and emotional distance necessary to succeed. ambitious but achievable goals. Other characteristics of It is critical for lion tamers to remember that lions are a good lion involve respect and communication. They never tame. They may sometimes appear docile, but they include being aware of how other people are being treated, act on instinct and can change from being submissive to a putting customers and employees before themselves, killing machine in an instant, sometimes with no warning. enabling and training others, promoting openness and In fact, you may have lions in your workplace who have
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Lion Taming

Steven L. Katz

displayed this baffling behavior. Lion tamers entering the with the tamer in a non-threatening manner, while also steel cage are by far outnumbered and outweighed by the allowing the tamer to begin to observe each lion. Third, find mighty lions they need to control. Lion taming requires a out what makes them tick and what is important to them. highly focused, disciplined approach. To be in control of What is it they are trying to accomplish? Help them. And the lions you must first be in control of yourself and have finally, do not throw yourself at the lion. Instead, gain the intuition to react instantly in a wide variety of situations their attention, engage them intellectually and emotionally, and individual characteristics. Lion tamer, Dave Hoover, and always remember that your job is to present the lion, calls this ability animal instinct in reverse. Lions have not the other way around. short attention spans and, in the office just as in the threeThe metaphor of standing in a lion tamers shoes does ring circus act, there is often little room for error. To be not mean being a daredevil or gladiator, for although it an effective lion tamer, it is necessary to capture the lions absolutely takes courage to face six hundred pounds, give or attention up close where the lion can smell and reach you! take a few pounds, of raw ferocity, even the most seasoned and then to make your point succinctly - lions are often an lion tamer will admit to feeling fear when the lions enter impatient lot. the cage. The lion tamer may break out in a cold sweat as Lion tamers must understand the lions motivation, the lions join him in the small caged area, much as a middle while also respecting the lion. They must study the lions manager who has unexpectedly been summoned to the until they can actually think like a lion. The lion tamers wisdom bridges the circus arena and Regardless of whether you are a part-time or full-time the business world, providing valuable insights lion tamer, or someone who is both lion and lion tamer, and strategies to help employees work more there is an essential ingredient. You must make a personal connection, communicating and developing effectively with the powerful people in their own signals that have emotional value, taking them beyond arena. A partial checklist that a lion tamer might their generic approach to screen out others. make before entering the ring, which would work equally as well in the business world, includes the following: 1) respect, study, and understand the traits that CEOs office might. Successful lion tamers know that a make them lions; 2) recognize the strengths, weaknesses, dose of healthy fear keeps them on their toes and keeps them and idiosyncrasies of each lion; 3) approach the lion with from making sloppy mistakes which, in their profession, the aim of getting the lion to approach you; 4) establish can be fatal. It is the lion tamers courage, though, that keeps your presence, reputation, and credibility; 5) gain and his/her knees from buckling or running for safety (which hold their attention; 5) achieve mutual trust and respect; would be another fatal error). build confidence by finding the path of least resistance, The lion tamers courage applied to the workplace is while gradually adding new challenges; 6) make the lions evident in the confidence that you belong in the CEOs successful in new ways; 7) help them look strong in the office, that you have something important to contribute by eyes of other lions, and 8) minimize negative or destructive being there. It is taking the opportunity to think on your abilities. Always remember, lion taming is about making feet and take a stand, working proactively and reacting in a the lion look good. constructive manner to steer the lion/lion tamer relationship It is easy to imagine how this list might improve your where it needs to go. It is also sensing and then seizing relationship with the lions in your workplace but how do opportunities to build trust and respect to cement that you, for example, achieve mutual trust and respect? First, relationship. dont bring anything to the table until you totally understand Most often, the lion tamers tools, of the trade are a the lion. Second, work to create a first impression by getting whip and a chair. These two tools achieve several important to know the lion first. For example, one technique in real results. They make the lion tamer look bigger than he/she lion taming is for the lion tamer to sit just outside the bars really is; they work to extend the lion tamers reach, allowing of the caged lions with no interaction between the tamer and him or her to maintain a safer distance from the lion; and, the lions. This gives them the opportunity to get acquainted when necessary, they act as a shield, making the lion tamer a
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Lion Taming

Steven L. Katz

larger and more awkward target. These two simple tools also project the lion tamers presence and personality. Together with his voice, the lion tamer is able to communicate from a distance the lion feels comfortable with and can accept. The crack of the whip gets the lions attention and triggers a trained movement away from the sound of the whip. As one lion tamer observed, The whip is like a walkie-talkie, popping the message, Yes, I mean you! Continuing with the analogy of the lion and the lion tamer in the workplace, consider the invisible whip and chair used in business settings to accomplish these goals. These tools can be words, gestures, expressions, or ideas that are used to move a person in a particular direction.

PART III: LION TAMING IS REALLY LION TEAMING

One of the most important ironies of lion taming is that lions and lion tamers work together to achieve something neither could achieve alone. The illusion of man versus beast is just that an illusion. In reality, lion tamers work hard to establish rapport, trust, and mutual respect. Every performance is preceded by hours upon hours upon hours of lengthy and intricate training and a process of sorting out the roles between the lion and the lion tamer. Think of lion taming acts you have seen. There are three tricks performed in nearly every such act first, having the lions sit upon their pedestals on their haunches, with their front legs raised in the air; second, getting Lion tamers walk into the cage just like anyone else the lions to jump through a ring of fire; and third, walks into their office. But because they address their the showstopper the lion tamer sticking his head fears, they are more focused on the possible into the lions mouth! Each takes teamwork and accomplishments than the obvious dangers. mutual trust. Although lions are instinctively dominant by nature, they are also social animals Both verbal and non-verbal signals can be used exactly as as they coexist with other lions in extended families, or the lion tamer uses the whip and chair to break the lions prides. Lions in the wild must maintain a balance between concentration, change the subject, or get things back on being the head hocho and functioning as a member of track. Sometimes the whip might be humor, sometimes a pride. silence, sometimes a smile or a raised eyebrow. Clyde In the workplace, this means functioning within the Beatty, one of the most well known lion tamers in history, hierarchy and power structure of organization charts, once noted that, I believe my voice irritates lions . . . so titles, rank, and seniority. Social dominance is meaningless I whistle to them. Likewise, lion tamers in the workplace without social context, and these two worlds are not merely need to be acutely conscious and in control of the signals complementary; they are essential to the lions survival. they send, and how the lions perceive them. Hierarchies and the existence of a larger group work The other tool lion tamers use is the pedestal upon together as a catalyst for defining roles and responsibilities which the lion sits. The lion tamers challenge is to meet for everyone including the lion. Although it is the lion who the lions needs, and at the same time prevent him/her from receives the ooohs and aaahs from the crowd, every darting around the ring. The pedestal is a place on which performance is the culmination of training, preparation, the lion feels comfortable and safe; and it is elevated, so the and teamwork behind the scenes. lion feels he is in command. The tamer needs the lion to be The mere fact of a lions dominance is often interpreted focused on the task at hand and also must communicate, set as aloofness and superiority, and workers may tend to expectations, and work toward the task at hand. A lion tamer avoid interaction with the lion. As with lions in the wild, in the workplace needs to identify or create a pedestal for lions in the workplace are walking a fine line: on the one the lion. For example, he or she might move to a chair at the hand maintaining their dominance while on the other hand table in the boardroom, motioning the president to the head making connections, building trust, and gaining mutual of the table. In doing so, the lion tamer has acknowledged respect among their workers. Lion tamers must initiate that the lion is on the pedestal, and the tamer can find his contact with the lions, but need to master the skill of or her own seat and adjust his or her distance and position interpreting the lions verbal and nonverbal cues. to suit the comfort of each of them. Lion tamer Clyde Beatty was only five-foot six and weighed 145 pounds, yet his act involved 40 lions with a
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Lion Taming

Steven L. Katz

combined weight of nearly 20,000 pounds! Although the disparity in size and power would seem to be to Beattys disadvantage, actually the opposite is true. For one thing, Beattys small stature allowed him to demonstrate speed, agility, and flawless footwork; but the remarkable difference in size between lion and tamer also served to make the lion feel secure in his role as king of the jungle. Beattys size served to magnify the lions stature. The power of contrast works to the advantage of lion and tamer alike. In the workplace, lions need other people to provide the contrast and context to reflect their role and actions. At the very least, they need a tamer to help them focus and leverage their position, strengths, and performance and to project that performance to the intended audience. One of the impressive pieces of a lion tamers act is commanding the lion to jump through a hoop of fire. This feat can only be accomplished when both the lion and the lion tamer feel secure in their respective roles and share a sense of trust, confidence, and respect.
CONCLUSION: TAKE YOUR BOW

Remarks
Using the extended metaphor of lions and lion tamers to illustrate the working relationship among top level executives and their subordinates sometimes seemed to be a stretch. Because the techniques of lion taming are unfamiliar to most readers, they might occasionally feel as if the device is a distraction rather than a tool as if the reader first needs to learn the lion tamers trade secrets and then apply them to the business world. That said, Lion Taming contained fascinating insights into the world of lion taming both under the Big Top and in the workplace. Katz conducted extensive research and interviews with professional lion tamers and includes many of their stories and quotes to capture the essence of the skills and talent needed to be successful in that profession. Likewise, case studies of executives and other members of the business/government/political arena, in addition to his own extensive and varied background in the public and private service, ground his assertions in fact. The book is one of only a few that is slanted not necessarily towards the lions (i.e., CEOs presidents, senior executives), but rather towards everyone else in the workplace. This is a book employees will want to read to learn how to capitalize on the lion/lion tamer relationship, but you might want to cover it in a plain brown wrapper if youre reading it in the office!

This brief conclusion reminds the reader that Lion tamers are presenting the lion, not the other way around, and that things can go right in the same blink of an eye that they can go wrong. Successful lion tamers are the ones who recognize satisfaction on a personal level without always needing to be rewarded publicly. As one executive said, I am right where I need to be. Recognition would ruin it, and another put it this way: You dont enjoy yourself until you know the magnitude of your own insignificance. Lion tamers are driven not from a desire for public recognition thats for the lions but from a personal standard to excel and know that they have earned it.

Reading Suggestions
Reading Time: 8-10 Hours, 291 Pages in Book Lion Taming is an easy and fascinating read. The bulk of the information is included in three parts: Part I, Lions Are Never Tame, Part II, The Art of Lion Taming, and Part III, Lion Taming is Really Lion Teaming. Each section is broken down into four or five chapters. Highlighted Secrets of the Lion Tamers and Lessons of the Lions Tamers are sprinkled liberally throughout the text, providing fascinating insight into the art of lion taming (for example: Lions can run 100 yards in three seconds when you are in a forty-foot cage they can nail you before you
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A conclusion, references, notes, a Summary of Secrets of the Lion Tamers, and index are provided.

Business Book Review Vol. 22, No. 23 Copyright 2005 Business Book Review, LLC All Rights Reserved

Lion Taming

Steven L. Katz

can say oops.), and each chapter ends with a summary entitled The Lions Tale. The Summary of Secrets of the Lion Tamers at the end of the book is extremely helpful, extracting and listing the books most important points chapter by chapter.

CONTENTS Part One: Lions Are Never Tame Chapter 1: Lions Are Never Tame Chapter 2: Getting Inside the Lions Skull Chapter 3: The Top of the Food Chain Chapter 4: Bringing Out the Lion Tamer in You Part Two: The Art of Lion Taming Chapter 5: The Art of Lion Taming Chapter 6: Courage, the Whip, and the Chair Chapter 7: The Lions Pedestal Chapter 8: Sticking Your Head in the Lions Mouth Chapter 9: Lion Taming in Action Part Three: Lion Taming if Really Lion Teaming Chapter 10: Lion Taming is Really Lion Teaming Chapter 11: Bringing out the Lion Teamer in You! Chapter 12: Performing in the Center Ring Chapter 13: Building the Lion Team Conclusion: Take Your Bow References Notes Summary of Secrets of the Lion Tamers Index About the Author

Business Book Review Vol. 22, No. 23 Copyright 2005 Business Book Review, LLC All Rights Reserved

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Lion Taming

Steven L. Katz

A Note to Our Readers

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Business Book Review Vol. 22, No. 23 Copyright 2005 Business Book Review, LLC All Rights Reserved

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