The Rooster Committee: A Lesson in Workplace Dynamics and Respect

Today, while parked in the city near a random parking lot and a few trees, I witnessed something I genuinely was not expecting: a full-blown rooster committee. Six roosters wandering around like they had somewhere important to be and opinions that absolutely needed to be heard. Friends, these were not ordinary roosters. What I didn't realize was that I was about to learn an unexpected lesson about workplace dynamics and respect from feathered friends.

There was very clearly a pecking order. One rooster — the one with the dramatic headdress and suspiciously peacock-adjacent tail feathers — had fully appointed himself CEO. No election. No discussion. Just confidence. He paced around supervising operations like middle management with strong opinions and absolutely no self-awareness.

One rooster looked deeply confused but committed to the mission anyway. One followed the crowd like, "I do not know what we are doing, but I support it." One seemed determined to create problems for no identifiable reason. One quietly minded his business, which honestly felt aspirational. And then there was the ring leader — Big Kahuna himself — aggressively patrolling the group like he owned the parking lot, the trees, and possibly the entire city.

Meanwhile, I had been parked for one hour and eleven minutes trying to convince my daughter to get in her car seat. At some point — and this is what parenting exhaustion does to a person — I told my daughter the roosters had come to tell her it was time to get in her car seat. Yes, friends. I outsourced parenting to feathered friends. To my surprise, she was absolutely fascinated.

Understanding Workplace Dynamics Through Universal Patterns

Honestly, the whole thing felt strangely familiar. Workplaces. Parenting groups. Family dynamics. Friend drama. Society in general. Everyone has a role. Someone thinks they are in charge. Someone follows the crowd. Someone causes unnecessary chaos. Someone quietly tries to survive. These workplace dynamics and respect patterns show up everywhere, even in parking lot roosters.

Right before we finally left, I watched Big Kahuna himself repeatedly run after one of the smaller roosters trying to peck him (or her — unclear, I am not a rooster expert). Without thinking, I stuck my head out the car window and yelled: "STOP!" As if I had suddenly become the official parking lot mediator for rooster conflict.

But maybe there is a tiny lesson in all of this. Whatever your role is in your workplace, family, friend group, or organization — we deserve to be respectful and be respected. None of us should be pecked. Not by coworkers. Not by family. Not by partners. Not by people projecting their stress, insecurities, or power struggles onto us.

Building Healthy Workplace Dynamics and Respect in Your Life

And also? If life feels chaotic right now, remember: somewhere out there is a rooster absolutely convinced he is CEO of a parking lot. When it comes to workplace dynamics and respect, stay humble. Mind your business. And keep pecking toward your own path.

About the Author | Day 157

I'm a soul-led coach, writer, mother, and recovering perfectionist currently navigating big transitions, temporary homes, toddler negotiations that somehow last longer than international flights, busy workdays, healing, growth, and the beautiful chaos of trying to hold it all together with humor.

For 157 straight days, I have shown up here — through travel exhaustion, parenting adventures, emotional growth, unpacking boxes, nervous system overload, laughter, tears, unexpected wisdom, and reminders that healing rarely happens in a straight line.

I write for the exhausted hearts, overthinkers, caregivers, nervous-system warriors, busy minds, people rebuilding, and anyone quietly trying to figure out life while still showing up. I believe healing can be gentle, growth can be messy, humor belongs in hard seasons, and sometimes life's best lessons arrive in completely random moments… including six roosters with leadership issues in a parking lot. 🐔✨