A Different Leadership Style?

Take Some Leadership Lessons From Horses

The old command and control style is dead. A different leadership style is needed if you really want to connect with your people. You may be able to gather some leadership lessons from horses....

One of my enduring passions is horse-riding, in particular dressage. In fact, some of my life's peak moments have been when I've been riding.

Moments where I have felt total unity with an animal that is 100 times stronger than me and yet together we have danced magically. They are moments of absolute connection and inspiration. These moments result from many hours of partnering with my horse, listening carefully to what he wants from me and my horse listening carefully to what I want from him.

I've also had some terrible moments on my horse. Times when nothing has gone right and it has been a ride that neither of us has enjoyed. Neither of us have seemed to connect and be able to communicate to each other.

Over the years we have designed and created many bits and pieces of equipment that manipulate and force the horse to comply and help us to quickly get the horse to do what we want, when we want. For example nosebands to hold their mouth closed (it give us more leverage on the bit), spurs and whips (to make them go forward more 'willingly'), martingales (to hold their heads down). These tools (and many others) have become an accepted part of the horse-riding game. Most riders use or have used them at some time to get a quicker, faster, easier result with their horse and generally don't question what could be going on for the horse that causes them, the rider, to resort to the use of these tools.

Jess, my horse, mostly wants to please (the reality is that Jess is 400 kg heavier than me and his head is about 2 feet higher than mine and the minute he decides he no longer wants to comply there will be absolutely nothing I can do about it). Over the years he has picked up a number of bad habits and avoidance tactics that need to be overcome in order for me to get the best from him ...when I want it. Because I was struggling to get him to do what I wanted, when I wanted, my riding coach advised me to use a noseband, spurs and carry a whip. So now I have a horse (that 80% of the time wants to please) being forced to perform, by having his mouth tied closed and bits of steel stuck in his ribs, simply because I was struggling and my riding skill and my ability to connect with him had not been good enough to guide him to release his potential.

About a week after I'd added all this additional riding gear (to make my job easier) I noticed, as I tightened up the noseband, that he ever so slightly pulled back from me and his ears flickered. I thought to myself "You hate this don't you, you feel trapped into doing what I want". So in that moment, I decided to listen to Jess and abandon all the gear.

Rather than forcing performance from him I chose to ride him that day by listening to what he was trying to communicate to me with his resistance. I then worked to discover what I the rider could do to help him avoid that problem. Long story short ... it was one of the best rides I've ever had on him - calm, relaxed, content, he did everything I asked of him with an ease and grace that until that day I hadn't felt from him.

Since that day I've pulled out my books on natural horsemanship - many of you may remember the movie "The Horse Whisperer" with Robert Redford that brought natural horsemanship into the mainstream - in which rather than forcing the horse into behaviour, you work with the horse and engage its spirit so it wants to work with you. Horse whisperers such as Monty Roberts and Ray Hunt in the U.S and Australian's such as Phil Rody and John Chatterton teach a different leadership style: that it is up to the leader to create the environment in which the other can learn and perform. Horses (like people) are proud, spirited, independent animals. Put too much pressure on them, back them into a corner and their flight or fight instinct comes to the fore. Just like humans, horses really do want to please, they try and try and yet when their leader doesn't reward, acknowledge, and take the time to become aware of their needs they do one of two things.

They become a problem (fight) or they succumb and lose their life force (flee) they do what they have to, but nothing more. You see both types at dressage competitions.

Horses showing their displeasure by rearing and bucking, fighting every inch of the way (they tend to be in the minority, because sadly they end up as dog-meat).

More often you see the flee type of horses. They perform well-executed tests, but there is no sparkle or energy to their performance.

Every now and then though, out comes a partnership where the horse and rider are in total unison, the horse emanates a presence of life, energy and delight in what it is doing - there is a real spring to its step and a joy in its movements that the horse who is just doing its job cannot emulate.

That you have read this far is a good indicator that you are the sort of person who want's to release people's potential and to ignite their life-force and spirit you are open and willing to use a different leadership style. You are not a Jack Welch or Donald Trump type who fires the bottom 10% and rules with dominance, force and manipulation (if you were you would have gone to another page). If you have people in your team who have either fled or are fighting ask yourself "What can I change about the way I lead to inspire and engage their spirit?"

These past few weeks have taught me that Jess has been under-performing because I had been very much self-focused and self-absorbed. My focus had been on my desires to compete on him and get him to do it right quickly. I hadn't given thought for his need for trust, respect, caring and compassion from his leader. As soon as I took the focus off me and I cared enough to listen to his wants and his fears and responded to them with a different leadership style his performance changed.

And finally, what Jess reminded me of is: If I don't remain focused on why I am doing something I end up doing and being something I don't want. Why do I ride and in particular practice dressage? Because I love the feeling of connection that comes when you are in total unity with your horse.

Make the decision that this is your year to bring a different leadership style to your workplace. The year to truly connect with your people, using values such as honour, caring, compassion, listening, empathising, connection and contribution. When you do this you will truly make a difference and transform yourself and the people in your world.

Let's finish with a quote from Lance Secretan's book Inspire! What Great Leaders Do

Use these lesson from horses and start today with your different leadership style.