On Changes, Transitions, and Everything Nice: How Being a Cat Parent Helps Me as an L&OD Professional

About 6 months ago, I started my journey as a management consultant focusing on digital learning. However, it was in the 1st quarter of 2021 that I started my role as a cat parent to my first cat, Toffee. The following year, I adopted a rescue cat, Shadow, and welcomed another one in 2023, Effy. As both an L&OD professional and a cat parent of 3, I have come to realize some quite interesting insights. Being a cat parent actually helps me grow as an L&OD professional, too. Sounds funny, right? But hear me out. In this blog article, let’s talk about changes, transitions, and everything being a cat parent taught me in relation to being an L&OD professional.

Embracing Change: Cats and Adaptability

One of the many things that cat parents must always keep in mind is that cats require time and patience to adjust to changes. It can be moving to a new home, having new furniture, rearranging stuff at home, and even new routines. When we moved to our new home, I had to make sure to immediately create a space for my cats to feel at home. I placed their carriers, toys, and beds in one corner of the room. I’ve also let them explore the space by themselves.

Just like in Change Management, I found that helping employees adjust to organizational changes, such as new systems and structures, requires empathy and patience. As L&OD professionals, we must find ways to encourage adaptability. Much like Lewin’s Change Model, moving to a new home with my cats required three stages: Unfreeze, Change, and Refreeze.

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A. Unfreeze: Preparing for the Move

As cats are creatures of habit, any disruption in their normal environment or routine can be tough. Much like in the Unfreeze stage, a gradual introduction to change—such as bringing out their carriers and boxes for packing—was necessary. In organizational change, the Unfreeze stage, refers to the need to slowly introduce employees to the change, explaining the need for it, and helping them let go of the old ways (i.e., previous systems or structures). This is why a training to highlight the changes needed is often required to help employees adapt better.

B. Change: The Move

During our moving day, I had to chase 2 of them just to be able to put them in their carriers. It was a stressful experience for all of us. The car ride wasn’t much of a help either. One of my cats started showing signs of anxiety. Luckily, the car ride did not take long. Having them see each other through their carriers also somehow helped in making them feel more relaxed.
In an organizational setting, this stage is where new systems and processes are implemented. Employees may feel a bit overwhelmed and sometimes lost during all the changes. As an L&OD professional, I realize that our goal is to find ways to guide them through these changes. This can be done by providing them with the right tools, training, and support as they navigate through these changes.

C. Refreeze: Settling into the New Home

After the move, my cats gradually adjusted to our new home. They’ve developed new routines and started playing with each other. What I love most about the move is that they were able to find their own spaces within our new home.
In the workplace, the Refreezing stage involves making sure that the changes and new processes become the norm. This can be done through continuous training, feedback, and support.

Dealing with Transitions: From Moves to New Initiatives

Moving homes or introducing a new pet can be challenging for cats, often causing stress and anxiety. As a cat parent, I make sure I provide the right support in helping my cats transition to changes. This involves understanding how each of my cats adjust to any change, researching about ways I can help them cope, and observing them closely.

As an L&OD professional, I have learned that there are various ways to gradually introduce changes and support in transitions to minimize disruption. In Transition Management in L&OD, where guiding employees through transitions requires understanding their concerns and providing support. This requires systematic planning in order to effectively implement the changes. Additonally, proper communication to everyone who will be affected by the change is vital. Understanding how they perceive these changes, monitoring their progress and collecting their feedback can also help in providing more relevant support.

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Conclusion

While it seems like a weird comparison, being a cat parent of 3 cats has been helping me grow as an L&OD professional, too. Patience, empathy, and adaptability have shaped my perspective in learning and organizational development. Much like being a cat parent, my journey as an L&OD professional is about continuous learning and adapting to change. And, more importantly, fostering a positive environment for growth. Here’s to changes, transitions, and everything nice and how these help me become a better cat parent and an L&OD professional.