Rethinking What It Means to “Herd Cats”
This week in Houston, I worked with a team preparing for a major shortlist interview. We had a full day mapped out, but as you’d expect, professionals are professionals and squirrely people are squirrely people. Conversations wandered. Tangents emerged. And every so often—even the CEO—would glance over and say, “Sorry, I know this is like herding cats.”
The truth? I wasn’t bothered at all. Everything was unfolding exactly the way I hoped. We had intentionally structured the day to support the kind of exploration that strengthens shortlist interview training, AEC interview preparation, and business development communication training. We built room for the team to talk through the project, connect as humans, and uncover what aspects of the work truly energized them.
Why Tangents Can Be Productive
This wasn’t one team—it was a joint pursuit between two firms. Before they could shine in the final presentation, they needed time to brainstorm, build trust, and play. Forcing them to stay rigidly on task would have killed the very chemistry that fuels strong AEC presentation skills, leading AEC interviews, and collaborative storytelling in high-stakes settings.
I only had a handful of core outcomes that truly mattered. As long as we were moving toward those, the wandering wasn’t a distraction—it was part of the process. In group presentation coaching and shortlist interview coaching, this kind of creative drift often reveals insights teams would never reach through rigid structure alone.
Leading Groups Without Over-Managing Them
If you’re running a team session—whether for pursuit prep, strategy work, or business development training—plan wisely. Don’t overstuff the schedule. Give people space to think, explore, and simply be themselves. Personalities matter. Human connection matters. Creativity needs oxygen.
When time gets tight, gently guide the group: “Here’s what we still need before the end of the day.” Keep an eye on the clock so they don’t have to. This approach aligns with Presence Coaching, confident presence development, and the core principles of effective business speaking: guide the process without over-controlling it.
Let “Herding Cats” Become an Asset
Teams need room to blow off steam, chase ideas, and explore. If you allow that—while still navigating toward essential outcomes—you end up with a more cohesive, energized, and effective team. That’s not herding cats. That’s skillful facilitation—and it’s what ultimately leads to stronger results in project interview preparation, presentation support, and other high-pressure AEC pursuits.
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