A view from a different seat
Tuesday, April 05, 2005
I just returned from a vacation to a dude ranch in Arizona and had some amazing insights, sitting perched atop a horse, of all places.
So here I am, trying to control something that is much bigger than I am, something that could harm -- or even kill -- me, and something that knows I'm not really the boss. How many leaders feel the same way about the team or company they are trying to lead?
For one thing, I learned very quickly that if I gave no other information or instructions, that the horse would either not go anywhere, or it would simply follow the pack and do what those around him did. When the horse did follow the other horses, there was clearly leadership happening, I just wasn’t the one providing it. Talk about humbling!
When I did begin to feel a little comfortable in my new position of power, I realized that I was way over-doing it. The horse needed just gently nudges or tugs to do just what I wanted, not the hard kicks and strong pulls on the reins I was giving. It took a little time, but I began to learn the subtle nuances that were needed for this situation.
One other fascinating insight I got was watching the ranch's wranglers -- men and women who understood horses better than I ever will and who have spend thousands of hours in a saddle. Despite their expertise, despite their wisdom, despite their ease with these huge animals, it was clear that they were never entirely in control. They could lead as best as they could, in whatever style worked for them, but it was never absolute control. There was a certain degree of latitude they had to allow for all the time. And they knew it. To try to absolutely dominate their horse would have been damaging, to the horse, to their relationship to the horse, and to how well the horse performed for them.
How about that for a lesson in leadership?
So here I am, trying to control something that is much bigger than I am, something that could harm -- or even kill -- me, and something that knows I'm not really the boss. How many leaders feel the same way about the team or company they are trying to lead?
For one thing, I learned very quickly that if I gave no other information or instructions, that the horse would either not go anywhere, or it would simply follow the pack and do what those around him did. When the horse did follow the other horses, there was clearly leadership happening, I just wasn’t the one providing it. Talk about humbling!
When I did begin to feel a little comfortable in my new position of power, I realized that I was way over-doing it. The horse needed just gently nudges or tugs to do just what I wanted, not the hard kicks and strong pulls on the reins I was giving. It took a little time, but I began to learn the subtle nuances that were needed for this situation.
One other fascinating insight I got was watching the ranch's wranglers -- men and women who understood horses better than I ever will and who have spend thousands of hours in a saddle. Despite their expertise, despite their wisdom, despite their ease with these huge animals, it was clear that they were never entirely in control. They could lead as best as they could, in whatever style worked for them, but it was never absolute control. There was a certain degree of latitude they had to allow for all the time. And they knew it. To try to absolutely dominate their horse would have been damaging, to the horse, to their relationship to the horse, and to how well the horse performed for them.
How about that for a lesson in leadership?
1 Comments:
commented by 
eLf ideas, 10:06 PM
eLf ideas, 10:06 PM
For now, I just read your latest blog entry; but I'm certain to backtrack one entry at a time.
I'm sure I'd be enjoying reading your anecdotes and other stories, especially that you obviously have so much to share with other individuals who have their own quests to achieve fellowship and humanity.
"The horse needed just gently nudges or tugs to do just what I wanted, not the hard kicks and strong pulls on the reins I was giving."
You remind me of Stephen Covey.
aLfie