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Moving beyond military metaphors, leaders must create conditions where strengths align and unpredictability becomes an asset.
The traditional paradigm of managers as distant commanders is giving way to a richer image—that of the enabler and servant leader (The Death of the Manager: The Rise of the Enabler). Inspired by that, we might consider a radical reimagining: what if managing an organisation were more like orchestrating a mega-event…of cat management?
Mega-Event Leadership: Bigger Than a Conference, Smaller Than an Army
A mega-event is not just about logistics—it’s about creating a shared experience that matters. Think of the energy, the unpredictability, the need for spontaneity within a framework. That spirit of enabling and serving highlights the importance of valuing individuals beyond their role as “assets.”
As Peter Drucker said: “The task of leadership is to create an alignment of strengths so strong that it makes the system’s weaknesses irrelevant.”
Cats have plenty of quirks and weaknesses if judged by traditional organisational standards. But the genius of Drucker’s insight is this: instead of commanding compliance, we design conditions that amplify strengths and render unhelpful behaviours less significant.
Why “Managing Cats” Wins Over Military Command
Military Leadership vs Cat Management Leadership:
– Centralised, hierarchical → Distributed, flexible
– Commands and controls → Enables and encourages
– Predictable, regimented → Emergent, dynamic
– Focused on compliance → Focused on engagement
Cats embody unpredictability and independence. If you attempt to control them by force, all you get is resistance, tension, chaos. But offer an enticing environment—sunlit spots, toys, companionship—and they choose to participate, follow, even perform. The leadership method shifts: we become enablers, curators of environment and purpose.
This vision echoes the call for authentic leadership as engagement rather than rigid instruction.
How Cat Management Might Be Achieved
It’s easy to talk about herding cats; harder to put it into practice. But there are principles that translate directly into modern leadership:
1. Design enticing environments. Provide spaces—physical or virtual—that allow people to find their own best work rhythm. Choice of tools, flexibility of schedules, room for creativity: these are the cat-friendly equivalents of scratching posts and sunny windowsills.
2. Offer meaning, not orders. Like cats, people respond to purpose. Frame the bigger picture, clarify the “why,” and let individuals decide the “how.” This aligns with Entrepreneurs Are Self-Centred, which stresses the need for personalised engagement over one-size-fits-all control.
3. Signal, don’t shout. Gentle nudges work better than commands. A small ritual, a symbol of progress, a visible cue—these can encourage movement far better than edicts.
4. Accept autonomy as a feature, not a bug. Cats will wander. So will people. The art of leadership is allowing autonomy while ensuring the whole event still makes sense. Diversity of approach enriches the outcome.
5. Celebrate contribution. When a cat decides to sit on your lap, it’s a gift. When a colleague brings fresh insight or takes initiative, acknowledge it warmly. Recognition creates repeat behaviour.
6. Lead by presence, not power. Cats trust those who are consistent and authentic. Likewise, people follow leaders who show up as themselves—fallible, approachable, genuine.
7. Remember, you herd from behind, not lead from in front.
The Playbook: Creating the Mega-Event of Cat Leadership
– Design the space—not the path. Architecture matters more than scripts.
– Craft invitations, not mandates. Engagement beats compliance.
– Celebrate the unexpected. Serendipity often produces the richest outcomes.
– Facilitate gentle rhythms. Leadership is about cadence, not cadence calls.
– Model authenticity. People know when you’re real—and that’s when trust flows.
Why This Matters Now
We’re moving beyond rigid models. In an age of complexity, uncertainty, distributed work, and individual agency, the idea of managing cats is better aligned with reality than the military hierarchy ever was.
A mega-event mindset embraces complexity, values autonomy, and invites participation without coercion. It’s about creating the conditions where leadership emerges—from the playful, surprising, feline-spirited choices of each human.
In short:
The new management paradigm is not about ordering a brigade but about composing a mega-event of cat management: flexible, inviting, human-centred. Drucker’s wisdom reminds us that leadership is about amplifying strengths, not eliminating quirks. Think less “lead an army” and more “tempt the cats.” Provide warmth, playfulness, meaning—and they’ll come, on their own terms, and often far more engaged than under command.
About the Author:
Nick Hixson is a business advisor and writer on strategy and leadership. He explores how complexity and human behaviour shape organisations. He is a Peter Drucker Associate and chairs the Advisory Board of the World Institute for Action learning.