Bobcat's Lessons for New Leaders

A little over two weeks ago, we adopted a stray cat from our local shelter (don’t shop – adopt!). His name is Bobcat. He’s large, infinitely snuggly, and all-around adorable. His acclimation to our home and family has been nothing short of miraculous. He’s even formed a wary — albeit somewhat friendly — détente with our goofy but lovable dog, Piper.

As I watched Bobcat navigate his way around our living room (and into our hearts), I had an epiphany: Bobcat’s first days provided valuable lessons about how leaders should approach a new position in an organization. So below are some of those lessons, as dictated to me by Bobcat. (What, you expected him to type them up?)

First Days, First Impressions

Day One: Stay Under the Couch

Bobcat spent his first day in our home under the couch. I was concerned he was unhappy or overly nervous, but in reality he was observing and scoping out the situation. He interacted with us when necessary (like at dinnertime), but there wasn’t a ton of communication. In leadership terms: no executive orders, no excessive handshaking, and certainly no big changes. He got to know the lay of the land, so to speak.

Don’t get me wrong—he made initial connections with us—but he wasn’t overly communicative. And that’s smart.

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