Herding cats & Wise Shepherds: coaching, collaborating and compromising for consensus

Thoughts on "herding cats"

One of the challenges .. the true tests of a good leader is the ability to bring a team of intelligent, often highly opinionated people together to accomplish goals & objectives. Finding unanimity & getting consensus brings to mind the non-harmonious picture of “herding cats” .. difficult .. seemingly uncontrollable .. at times chaotic ;~)

Getting your team to care, collaborate & cooperate may seem exactly like “herding cats.”

The art of “herding cats” from the saddle of "wise herdsmen"

Cats may not be "highly intelligent" but they're certainly not STUPID. They know who feeds and cares for them.
 

If you are deemed highly intelligent and highly opinionated but are not coachable .. you have much to growing to do.

“Wise shepherding” requires: care & nurture .. patience .. collaboration & compromise. Then you will be much more likely to get cooperation & consensus to achieve goals & objectives.

The challenge is finding “coachable cats” .. teachable people who want to grow.

Be that “wise herdsman” and in turn your (team-business-organization) will BLOSSOM.

The one thing I have learned as a CEO is that leadership at various levels is vastly different. As you move up the organization, the requirements for leading don’t grow vertically, they grow EXPONENTIALLY.” ~ Indra Nooyi

"It is not enough to just do your best or work hard. You must know what to work on and how to lead."

- W. Edwards Deming 6 Sigma Principles -

Closing thoughts about “wise shepherds”

o Wise shepherds are good guides. They possess the ability to direct potential chaos into a productive process that brings people together and moves them in the right direction.

o They edify: build-up rather than tear-down

o They create a THINKING environment that fosters competency

o They look to the good of their “herd” to develop opportunities that nurture creativity, contribution and growth.

o They are artful communicators of vision & strategy: an essential competency to inspire people to follow and motivate them to achieve.

o They establish trust by being trustworthy (demonstrated by actions - not platitudes)

o They walk the talk of their well-worded “mission statements” & corporate “values”

We all know that words without action are meaningless.

What do your words say about you?

https://www.bebee.com/producer/@fay-vietmeier-pennsylvania/what-do-your-words-say-about-you