What a Horse Taught Me About Leadership

Leadership is a complex topic that has been studied by experts for centuries. But what if we could learn about leadership from an unlikely source? In this blog post, I will share a couple of leadership lessons that I discovered while visiting my client Kathy Taylor's ranch.

First of all, allow me to share that I have always been afraid of animals. I've seen quite a few videos of horses kicking people or throwing them to the ground, so the thought of getting into the pen with them made me quite nervous.

But Kathy is an experienced horsewoman and leadership coach, so she was able to put me at ease. She showed me how to approach the horses, how to talk to them, and most importantly, how to respect their space. As we interacted with the horses, I began to see some of the parallels between human interactions and horse interactions.

Lesson #1: Respect your followers' space. Just as you should never walk up behind a horse unannounced, you should also never attack or criticize your followers without warning. Instead, always give them a chance to correct their behavior before taking any action.

Lesson #2: Set healthy boundaries. Because I was afraid, one of her horses kept walking up to me and nudging my shoulder. This happened two or three times before Kathy asked me if I struggled with setting boundaries.

I shared with her that I often found myself spinning in and out of perfectionism, people-pleasing and proving. This was a constant struggle because of being raised to be "a nice Christian woman".

Kathy shared that horses are very good at setting boundaries. They know when to trust people and when to keep their distance. As a leader, it’s important to know how to set boundaries so that you can create an effective team dynamic.

Lesson #3: Be present. I observed that while one horse interacted with me, the others were positioned in a way that let me know that they were extremely observant of their surroundings.

Kathy shared that horses live in the present moment, and they are very attuned to their surroundings. As a leader, it’s important to be aware of what’s happening around you so that you can make quick decisions when necessary.

Lesson #4: Be patient when working with others. The horses were very patient with me because I was nervous. It reminded me of my upbringing and military training about being calm in the midst of chaos.

Kathy shared that horses are amazing creatures, and they have the ability to remain calm under pressure. When horses are faced with a difficult situation, they don’t panic. Instead, they use their instincts to figure out what to do next. As a leader, it’s important to be able to stay calm under pressure so that you can make clear-headed decisions.

Lesson #5: Be trustworthy. One of the horses laid down next to me. Kathy was quite surprised and shared that when a horse lays down with a human around it's a sign of trust.

Kathy shared that horses only feel comfortable enough to do this around people they trust. As a leader, it's important to build trust with your team so that you can create a strong bond. horses can teach us about leadership is the importance of being present in the moment. Horses live in the present moment, and they are very attuned to their surroundings. As a leader, it’s important to be aware of what’s happening around you so that you can make quick decisions when necessary.

Lesson #6: Honor relationships. Connection is one of my core values and I noticed that all of the horses seemed to be "mingling".

Kathy shared that horses are very social animals, and they build strong relationships with other horses in order to survive in the wild. They are always working together to find food and water, and they have to cooperate in order to stay safe. As a leader, it’s important to remember that teamwork is essential for success.

INTERVIEW

After spending time with the horses, I interviewed Kathy about additional lessons that she felt were important to share with other leaders. Read on for fabulous tips!

Kadena: Kathy, what other lessons can horses teach us about leadership?

Kathy: Leadership is not about having all the answers. Horses are creatures of instinct, and they are very good at reading people and situations. As a leader, you don’t always have to have all the answers. Sometimes, it’s more important to be able to read the situation and know when to trust your gut.

Kadena: I see so many women struggling to lead because they are mimicking men. What would you say to those women?

Kathy: Be authentic. Horses are very attuned to energy, and they can sense when someone is being inauthentic. As a leader, it’s important to be genuine and authentic. People will respect you more if they can see that you are being true to yourself.

Kadena: Rumor has it that men are socialized to be occupational, while women are socialized to be relational. Do you think this is true?

Kathy: I do believe that there is some truth to that statement. However, it’s important for both men and women to be able to develop relationships in order to be successful leaders. Strong relationships are key to any team dynamic.

Horses are very good at working together as a team, and they have to be in order to survive in the wild. They are always working together to find food and water, and they have to cooperate in order to stay safe. As a leader, it’s important to remember that teamwork is essential for success.

Kadena: As you know I are up as a military dependent AND I also served active duty. What can a horse teach new leaders about endurance, resilience , and bouncing back?

Kathy: Horses are very resilient creatures, and they have the ability to bounce back after a tough situation. They have to be in order to thrive in the wild. They are constantly faced with challenges, but they never give up.

As a leader, you will also face challenges, but it’s important to remember that you can overcome them by cultivating patience, endurance and resilience.

Endurance is also key for leaders. You need to be able to power through difficult times without giving up. When the going gets tough, remember that horses are excellent role models of endurance and resilience.

Kadena: At times it is difficult to keep up with the rapid pace of change. How can a leader thrive in the midst of constant change?

Kathy: Leadership is about being adaptable. Horses are very adaptable creatures, and they are able to thrive in any situation. As a leader, it’s important to be adaptable and flexible so that you can respond to changes quickly and efficiently.

The world is constantly changing, so it’s important for leaders to be able to roll with the punches. The best way to do that is by staying open-minded and being willing to try new things. You never know what might work until you give it a shot.

Kadena: So many leaders struggle with making decisions. What would you say to them?

Kathy: Trust your gut. Horses are creatures of instinct, and they are very good at reading people and situations. As a leader, you don’t always have to have all the answers. Sometimes, it’s more important to be able to read the situation and know when to trust your gut.

When in doubt, make a decision quickly and move on. Leaders need to be decisive so that they can stay focused on their goals. If you spend too much time deliberating over every decision, you will lose focus and momentum.

Leadership is not easy, but with a bit of patience and practice, you can hone your skills. The horses have taught me many valuable lessons, and I hope that they can do the same for you. Thank you for your time.

Kadena: Thank you, Kathy, for sharing your story with us! I sincerely appreciate your time today! Ladies and gentleman, these are just a few of the many lessons from Kathy's horses. If you've been struggling with letting go of thoughts and habits that no longer serve you or with navigating uncertainty, I highly recommend that you reach out to Kathy Taylor at Herdwise.

Kathy: Thank you Kadena for having me. .

What are some of the lessons YOU have learned from horses? We would love to hear from you in the comments below!

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