5 LESSONS TO LEARN FROM HORSES…

More than 90% of human communication is non-verbal!

Is it any wonder that we find it so difficult to remember what we learn through words?

Can you guess what the best way to learn is?

Correct! Doing. Being. Not talking.

The best way to learn something new is to do and as horses do, because the only effective way to communicate with horses is through action and by being present, in the moment.

Today’s best business decisions for leadership development are now shifting to working with horses, to learn the way of the horse herd.

The way of the horse herd is this: “leadership loves…love leads!

All you have to do is look at the following lessons that you can learn from a horse, and you’ll see what gaining some horse sense could do for you and your team.

It’s All About Respect

Horses naturally live in herds and each herd has several leaders: in the front, in the rear, and some on each side. The dominant mare asserts her authority through their actions and observes the rest of the herd to ensure they understand who is boss. The lead mare guides the herd by setting direction. The lead stallion keeps them safe. What can be learned from equine assisted learning is that in order to guide a 1,000+ plus horse, the horse needs to respect you to be their leader. In EAL, we learn to assert our leadership in non-verbal, non-aggressive ways, and to observe how the horse responds.

Pay attention

Individual horses and horses in a herd are always paying attention to their surroundings. When you work with a horse you can learn how to be more aware of the environment you’re in. As you watch the horse’s ears, the way they move their tail, and how they position their feet, you’ll soon pick up what the horse is communicating. You have to pay attention and use all of your senses.

Energy for the situation

A good leader knows how to use their energy for the situation. A good leader can adjust their energy to meet the demands of the circumstances. A good leader establishes trust through the blending of timing and energy to establish congruency. Horses are masters of adjusting their energy to work for the benefit of the team.

RenewAL

Great leadership coaching must always include time for renewal. Horses work for peace and equilibrium, and you can only see that if you slow down to observe and learn. In a recent trip to San Luis Obispo, I watched a herd for six hours, and my key take away was that even the lead stallion and mare take naps.

Herds Convene

Horses form tight groups of family units within the herd as a whole. When the herd senses a potential predator, the herd convenes. The herd operates successfully when all the members of the herd are willing to work as part of the herd and stick to the the rules of the herd. Spending time with horses learning the ways of the herd helps to develop the skills necessary to give clear direction, create the right amount of energy to get movement, set boundaries, and be congruent in your thoughts and feelings..