Q & A With the Central Park Peacock

Yesterday, New York City was abuzz with the news that a peacock had escaped from the Central Park Zoo, spending the night on a 5th Avenue apartment windowsill before flying back home. Turns out the AWOL avian is a huge fan of trivia, because he granted me an exclusive interview:

DJ – So tell me, why did you decide to literally “fly the coop?”

CPP –  Why do you think? When I came to this zoo 15 years ago, they promised me there’s be room for growth, and that I’d learn to spread my wings. Since then, I’ve been stuck in this same isolated cage, doing the same stupid job.

DJ – Wow. So you’re bitter about your situation?

CPP – You bet I am! I’m the best thing this place has got going for it, WAY smarter than all these other dodos- yet they take me for granted, ignore my ideas to improve the zoo, and I’ve been passed over for promotion twice by frikkin’ penguins half my age.

DJ – So you feel like you’re not valued by the organization?

CPP – Look, I’m a peacock. I KNOW I’m good at what I do. When I see those no-talent flamingos getting their own special exhibit with a picture window and a private wading pool, I have to assume it’s because of favoratism, plain and simple.

DJ – Have you talked to your boss about this?

CPP – You mean that power-tripping cage handler? He’s always micromanaging me, telling me to “display my feathers more” whenever tourists walk by. Thanks for the tip, genius. Besides, he’s nothing but a suckup to the zookeeper, anyway.

DJ – So you decided to leave. Why’d you come back?

CPP –  The demand for specialized birds just isn’t what it used to be, not in this economy. I must have sent out resumes to 100 other zoos; half of them closed their avaiaries during the recession, and the rest said I was overqualified. Rather than risk becoming obsolete, I had to come gliding back to this place.

DJ – It appears that you were welcomed back with open- err…wings…

CPP – Don’t let the newspapers fool you. They took the opportunity to replace me with a peacock who was probably an egg when I started here, and are paying her half what I was making. As soon as this interview’s over I’m on the fast track to Tyson Farms.

DJ – A depressing way to end a lifetime of service, no?

CPP – Whatever- at least I’ll still get my pension.

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Chances are, you’ve got a “peacock” or two at your company as well. What questions would you ask him/her? How do you think their attitudes affect the rest of your team? What ways can you help bring your firm’s “peacocks” back to the roost, to be productive & valued members of the flock?