Herding cats

Definition

Managing or coordinating a group of independent-minded individuals who refuse to cooperate, similar to the impossibility of actually herding cats. The daily reality of most middle managers.

Example Usage

Getting all the department heads to agree on a meeting time is like herding cats with ADHD.

Origin

Management metaphor dating to the 1980s, popularized by a 2000 Super Bowl commercial

Fun Fact

The phrase became so popular that actual cat herding competitions were held at tech conferences in the early 2000s.

Source: Management terminology

Related Terms

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A self-employed professional who trades the stability of a regular paycheck for the thrilling uncertainty of hustling for clients while working in pajamas. Freelancers enjoy the freedom to choose their projects and set their own hours, which usually means working twice as many hours for half the pay until they build a solid client base. The modern embodiment of "be your own boss" energy and perpetual invoicing anxiety.

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Intermediate

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The professional middleman who gets paid to stand between two parties who can't or won't talk to each other directly—think brokers, agents, or that friend who has to relay messages between feuding exes. They arrange deals, smooth over conflicts, and collect fees for being the human equivalent of a relay station. Essential in business, diplomacy, and anywhere people are too proud or busy to handle their own negotiations.

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