Our friend Andi was heartbroken. VIM Executive Coaching while clearly not psychologists, but business coaches, often listen to tales of woe before we gently re-direct our clients to more leadership related topics.
Nevertheless, Andi is a compassionate person (and an excellent CFO) who, about three years ago, met up with a feral cat in the middle of winter. In fact, the poor thing was eating bird seed on the ground near a bird feeder.
Over time, Andi gained the kitty’s trust and took the cat in (and yes, she had the mobile vet check for chips) but wherever the cat came from or what it had seen in life, it became totally attached to Andi. Whenever Andi came home from a tough day at the software development firm, the cat was there to greet her and shower her with affection. On weekends, the cat would hang out with Andi in the garden, watching and purring as her rescuer and friend potted plants and planted flower bulbs and such.
“I Didn’t Know”
Andi had to visit one of the company’s satellite offices. It was a one-day trip. She arranged for the electrician to put in extra kitchen lighting while she was gone. Sure enough, the electrician had to leave the door open to bring in some supplies, and the cat scurried out.
In those kinds of situations, it is easy to point fingers. The electrician was contrite but no one told him. Andi blamed herself – she should have put up a sign or something. Naturally, Andi scoured the neighborhood, put up posters, made mention of it in the community paper and website and notified the animal league. As the weeks past, she became resigned to the fact that the cat had “returned to the wild.”
She made mention of it at her company to her co-workers and received sympathy and support. Everyone knew how tough a year it had been for her; relationship problems, health issues, sweeping changes in the organization and with them the possibility of downsizing. Yet through it all, Andi never lost her sense of compassion, her approachability, or her courage.
In regard to the lost cat, Andi became somewhat philosophical and let go of the pain. She had done her best and what else could be done but to go on with life.
Authenticity
Andi was known as a leader with the rare ability to show empathy and to really listen and respond to the needs of others.
Several months later, she was out in her garden talking on the phone to one of her managers. It was an evening in early autumn. Something brushed her leg. She let out a scream that panicked the manager.
“What’s wrong? What’s wrong?”
Andi had dropped the phone, to pick up her returned cat.
“Where have you been?” she cried to the purring kitty.
Andi quickly explained to the manager what had happened and told her she had to go. They resumed their happy relationship as if nothing had happened.
Kind of a Parable
The story is not an important executive leadership parable that will last for years to come. We are not that arrogant. Yet, as we thought about it, about who Andi was as a leader and how much her authenticity was appreciated by her co-workers, we couldn’t help but feel that her mindfulness guided her through all of the phases of her life – including a lost cat.
She was lucky her cat returned but her strength in that sadness, was an acceptance and an honest response to the situation.
She has moved on with her life and her career. She is still known as a mindful and compassionate leader. She remembers to be in the moment, and being open enough to not ascribe guilt or blame or judgment.