Cat in a Hat? The Change Challenge
Read Across America Day is celebrated on March 2nd, in honor of Dr. Seuss’ birthday.
I love Dr. Seuss. I love reading his books to my kids. The onomatopoeia, the alliteration, the rhyming … it is pure genius. The musicality of the language he uses is infectious.
So in that spirit, I imagined a situation where there was a Cat in the Hat at my workplace …
Our CEO had a challenge
We had a CHANGE to tell
We had a team meeting
Ideas rang out like a bell.
Ideas were voiced
But we couldn’t quite start
So we sat in the conference room
Throwing a dart.
We need an idea
We need one right NOW.
Someone was inspired and
Was taking a bow.
We had all agreed when
There came a great BUMP.
At the door was a sudden
And horrible THUMP.
A Cat in the Hat entered
And said with a flip
of his long blackish tail
I think you’re all whipped.
“Your idea WON’T work,
It’s the wrong thing to have,”
Said this cat
Who was suddenly making us sad.
“I know better than you,”
Mocked the boldest among us.
“Why have you come?”
“Why do you fuss at us?”
In our heads we all knew
We had to move fast.
This disruptor would never
Help make our CHANGE last.
“GET OUT!” we all said.
“Be gone! You’re not helpful.
Cease and desist!”
The Cat, he looked woeful …
“I really was trying
To help,” said the Cat.
“But I guess I can see
It did not seem like that.”
“Just remember, there’s ALWAYS
Detractors like me.
Your change communications
Will never quite be …
Everything to everyone.”
We knew he was right
And thought about how
We could add some insight.
“Impervious to the slings
And arrows of the masses.
You really should try
To just stick to the facts-es”
We have to admit
We were glad that Cat left.
We were tired and
More than a little bereft.
Then our CEO came back
She said, “How did you do?”
What would YOU do,
If your CEO asked YOU?
Do you have a “Cat in the Hat” in your organization? Someone who may be well-intentioned, but nonetheless has the impact of a Seussical “cat tornado?” Good luck with that!
Until next time … wishing you business readiness success!
Kirsten Jordan is a Partner at PeopleResults. She can be reached on Twitter @Kirstenkbdb.
