Cats Don’t Carpool: The Leadership Blog Series
Herding Cats, Managing Chaos, and Leading with Less Hiss
They’re the first to log in and the last to complain.
They follow up when others forget.
They say “I’ve got it” more than they say “I need help.”
And they’re probably carrying a quiet load no one’s fully noticed.
Say hello to your Workhorse team members.
In Cats Don’t Carpool: They Come in Their Own Accord, Workhorses are the dependable, steady, emotionally responsible folks who get things done, without needing a parade (or even a proper lunch break). They often hold a team together… and sometimes hold too much without saying a word.
These employees aren’t “low maintenance”—they’re just used to powering through. Which means if you’re not checking in, you might miss when they’re overwhelmed, under-supported, or quietly slipping toward burnout.
Let’s talk about how to actually build trust with your Workhorse employees—before their loyalty turns into silent resentment.
🐴 Workhorse Traits to Recognize
They often:
- Do what needs doing without waiting to be asked
- Cover for others (even when it’s not their job)
- Avoid conflict, but feel everything
- Show care through action, not words
- Appear “fine” even when they’re anything but
They’re not weak. They’re not robotic.
They’re just used to being the one other people count on—and rarely the one who’s asked “how are you doing?”
🤝 What Trust Looks Like to a Workhorse
If you want to build (and keep) their trust, they need to know:
- You see the effort they put in
- You won’t overload them just because they never say no
- You value their emotional labor, not just their task list
- You’ll back them up when things get hard
- You’re paying attention (even if they never complain)
They don’t need daily pep talks.
They need respect, protection, and the occasional nudge to take care of themselves, too.
🧭 5 Ways to Build Trust with Your Workhorses
1. Notice the invisible work
Name the effort they put in that others might overlook.
🪶 Try this:
“I saw how you kept that project moving behind the scenes—it didn’t go unnoticed.”
2. Don’t punish competence
Just because they can do it all doesn’t mean they should.
🪶 Try this:
“I want to make sure we’re not leaning on you by default. Let’s talk about how to rebalance the load.”
3. Check in without a performance talk
Ask how they are, not just what they’ve done.
🪶 Try this:
“How are you feeling about the pace right now? What’s working, and what’s wearing you down?”
4. Let them say no without guilt
Workhorses often struggle to set boundaries. Create space for them to speak up safely.
🪶 Try this:
“You’re amazing at taking things on—but it’s also okay to pass. What do you want to say yes to right now?”
5. Offer care, not just praise
Recognition is great. But support matters more.
🪶 Try this:
“You’ve been showing up strong for everyone. Let’s make sure someone’s showing up for you, too.”
🐈 Final Meows
Workhorse employees are the quiet backbone of many teams. But loyalty, consistency, and work ethic shouldn’t come at the cost of being seen, heard, and supported.
Build trust with intention. Not because they ask, but because they deserve it.
Because even the strongest Workhorses need someone to say,
“Let me carry this one with you.”
This post is part of the ongoing series
🧶 Cats Don’t Carpool: The Leadership Blog Series – Herding Cats, Managing Chaos, and Leading with Less Hiss
Insights inspired by the book “Cats Don’t Carpool: They Come in Their Own Accord.”
📘 Pre-order the book for more leadership insights that center humanity and results:
👉 https://amzn.to/4kCSJ6B