Level Up your Leadership

Cat Herding 101 – How to Recognise the Signs

Individual performance is important. But individual performance does not necessarily contribute meaningfully to useful team outcomes.

Here are three clear signs that you are cat herding, and should consider how you can improve team performance:

• Everyone is doing their own thing.
• Organisational goals are not clear.
• Your team avoid discussing or measuring performance.

Five steps leaders can take to rally your cats team behind a plan

Step #01 – What is your purpose?

• Why are we here? What are we trying to change?
• Work with your team to build a shared understanding of the “why” and the “how”.
• Describe it in a few simple sentences.

Step #02 – Build your coalition

• Identify your coalition of the willing – those who have the most to gain or lose.
• Ensure your coalition has the right level of influence to align around a common set of goals.
• Understand how your coalition can support and influence others involved in the planning process.

Step #03 – Focus on what matters

• Analyse your operating environment. Work out your organisation’s strengths and weaknesses.
• Listen. Ask your stakeholders and customers to give you feedback.
• Build a picture of what success looks like.

Step #04 – Build your plan

• Involve your entire team. Identify the key steps and journey to success.
• Be clear on what success looks like from the customer, team and organisation perspective.
• Build a roadmap with clearly defined objectives and success measures. Allocate resources.

Step #05 – Be open and accountable

• Ensure roles and accountabilities are clear.
• Check in regularly. Clearly discuss performance and progress. Discuss how to overcome roadblocks.
• Make adjustments to ensure support organisational priorities and outcomes. Celebrate successes.