Herding Cats
Ever and feel like you spend a lot of time “herding cats.” Do you spend time wondering:
- Why don’t they just do what they are supposed to?
- Why do I have to do all the thinking around here?
- Why can’t they just do what they are told?
Before you start banging your head against the wall (again), ask yourself a couple of clarifying questions.
- Why did you hire “cats” in the first place? After all, they don’t just appear (in the workplace) on their own. “Cats” are opinionated, self-focused, and unaware that there are rules. Were you looking for different thinkers or someone to challenge the status quo when you hired them?
- What are you asking the “cats” to do? Are you asking them to “fetch” or “walk on a leash”? A “cat” will just wonder why you wanted the stick way over there. And a leash is just something to slip out of.
- Have you considered that mismanaged “dogs” often act like “cats”? If you don’t have leashes (systems and procedures) or training (management) dogs often wander randomly and do disassociated things. Just like “cats.”
“Herding cats” should not be a surprise. Nor should figuring out ways to manage them. After all, if you stop feeding “cats” they go away on their own.
Contact me if you want some help from an experienced Cat Wrangler.
Keith
“Cats only pretend to be domesticated
if they think there’s a bowl of milk in it for them.”
– Robin Williams