Professional Cat Herder….sounds cute. I am seeing this little “title” on more and more business cards. Or I hear people tell me that they compare their job to a cat herder. But what are these people really saying?
When we struggle to get people on the same page with us, they end up doing their own thing, independent of each other. But in business, that is unacceptable. So what is the real issue here? Is it that they are just such independent people that they must go where the wind takes them? Or is that they haven’t seen any real leadership? And just who’s fault is that? Theirs?
Trent Lott wrote a book called Herding Cats. I haven’t read and I can’t say that I am in any big hurry to either. But in his case it might be appropriate. He has a bunch of people that run around with their own agendas, each possessing a general unwillingness to compromise unless their lobbyist says its ok. Alright, I better stop before this turns political.
In my line of work, corporate training, I have seen this first hand several times. Management scratching their heads because people aren’t taking advantage of the resources that are available. We have all heard the saying, “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make them drink.” We just haven’t done a good job of telling the horse that it is hot and drinking now will prevent thirst in the immediate future. Its not the horse’s fault for not knowing this, its ours for not sharing this information.
So before we proudly display a badge proclaiming our role as Chief Cat Herder, maybe you might want to take a look in the mirror and see why that is. You may not want to put that on once you do.
June 27, 2007 at 12:10 am
I’ve seen this same “horse to water” effect, but now that effect is even more of an issue. It’s why people talk about attention. There’s also a bit of an issue of whether what we are trying to tell them is really that important and needed. And maybe it should just be available to them as a reference when they need it – not just in case they need it. With all that’s happening right now, it makes you wonder how much they should drink from the fire hose.
June 27, 2007 at 11:38 am
Great stuff Chris!!!! I will admit it is much easier to make it other people’s fault for not looking at our fantastic stuff – following our lead – or what have you. We forget that so much of what we do is sales (selling ideas). I look forward to more posts.
June 27, 2007 at 4:10 pm
Forgive my immature enthusiasm for a moment……Wow, this is so cool, people are commenting on my blog!! That is just so cool!
Ok, Thanks Tony and Wendy for your thoughts. Tony, your point about drinking from the fire hose is so appropriate because that so often seems to be the next step that management takes in these situations. Cram more material down their throat if they aren’t getting it. Makes you wonder how management gets to that position when they take such a short sighted view.
Wendy, I couldn’t agree more. We really are selling. During the normal sales cycle, if the prospect isn’t buying, what happens? They take a step back and analyze the process and assess their approach. Why don’t we do that in training? Its pretty easy to put it on the learner and say its them. Taking responsibility can be tough for anyone, but isn’t that a sign of a quality person, not just a quality employee? And as trainers, we have a huge responsibility to the learner, which starts with us.
June 28, 2007 at 5:34 am
The New York Times had a cover story on media emperor Rupert Murdoch’s influence. His group owns the publisher that gave Trent Lott a $250,000 advance for the cat book.
January 20, 2008 at 10:21 pm
The main thing i’m enjoying while reading your blog is the way you write, you are a really charismatic person and your posts are wonderful, keep it up!