Cats Don’t Carpool: The Leadership Blog Series
Herding Cats, Managing Chaos, and Leading with Less Hiss
Let me start with a little confession: I’ve worked with my fair share of Alpha personalities—both the charmingly competent kind and the ones who leave a trail of scorched-earth spreadsheets in their wake.
This post kicks off a new leadership series inspired by my book, Cats Don’t Carpool: They Come in Their Own Accord. Together, we’ll explore what today’s workplace can learn from cat personalities (yes, really!)—and how understanding these archetypes can make you a more effective, empathetic, and human leader.
Now, let’s dig into our first big idea: why high-performing Alphas don’t always make the best managers.
🧠 The Alpha Archetype: A Quick Recap
As I explore in Cats Don’t Carpool, Alphas are the workplace dynamos:
- Competitive and achievement-oriented
- Highly self-directed and goal-focused
- Crave recognition and influence
- Often impatient with inefficiency or ambiguity
Sound familiar? They’re the go-to folks when you need something done—and fast. But here’s the catch: leading people requires a different skill set than outperforming them.
🐾 When Leadership Becomes “Lone-Wolfing in a Team Shirt”
Alphas can struggle in management roles when:
- They micromanage, believing there’s only one “right” way (theirs).
- They lose patience with team members who move at a different pace.
- They hog the spotlight, unintentionally minimizing others' contributions.
- They resist delegation, fearing loss of control or quality.
It’s not about ego—it’s about mindset. Many Alphas are simply applying the same strategy that made them successful as individuals… without realizing it won’t work as a team blueprint.
🚧 So… Should We Stop Promoting Alphas?
Not at all. But we must stop equating individual excellence with leadership readiness.
Here’s the shift we need:
| High-Performing Alpha | High-Impact Manager |
|---|---|
| Takes charge solo | Builds collaborative momentum |
| Focuses on personal outcomes | Coaches for team development |
| Seeks recognition | Gives credit freely |
| Excels independently | Navigates interpersonal dynamics |
| Competes | Connects |
💡 How to Help Alphas Grow Into Great Managers
Got a potential Alpha in your ranks—or in the mirror? Try these strategies:
- Pair them with a mentor who models people-first leadership.
- Invest in emotional intelligence training to enhance self-awareness and empathy.
- Redefine delegation as a leadership strength, not a weakness.
- Celebrate team wins (not just personal victories).
- Discuss the mindset shift from “top performer” to “team developer” before the promotion.
🐈 Final Meows
Alphas bring unmatched energy and drive—but great leadership isn’t about being the loudest or the fastest. It’s about knowing your team, empowering them to shine, and building something bigger than yourself.
Enjoying the feline spin on leadership?
📘 Pre-order the book that inspired it all:
Cats Don’t Carpool: They Come in Their Own Accord
👉 https://amzn.to/4jn9zox
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.”