Get On and Go - Issue 16 February 08

"I just want one I can get on and go." a common request for those interested in owning a horse. A few questions later to better understand experience and true expectations, the recommendation of a quad often seems more appropriate. "They generally start up when you need them, there are minimal problems with balance and they are quite comfortable to sit in the garage for months on end."

A horse just comes with a few more responsibilities, they require that we take on a leadership role. As with any leadership position the perspective of "How will this decision change my life? and What will I need to do to adapt to this new role?" are questions best answered before we get the horse. Because, if a horse is truly not a hearts desire, maintenance becomes all consuming once the novelty wears off and our view on the addition usually takes a turn for the worse.

While we share little in common with a horse, we are both social beings. A horse is a natural follower seeking a confident and fair leader. We attain that status through developing a relationship, gaining credibility and earning the authority as your knowledge and skill improves.

When we don't view owning a horse on these terms that well trained horse you paid so dearly for, all of a sudden develops annoying habits. Well at least that is how we view it. A bad habit, or a big problem, seldom is sudden and usually develops subtly. Master horseman Ray Hunt coined the phrase "What happened before what happened, happened" as a way to get participants in his clinics to think from the perspective of the horse.

Workplace issues rarely just happen either. Boyatzis & McKee suggest that organizations are more likely to tolerate dissonnace, or that annoying little habit, if the short-term results seem to be there, that is until there is a big problem.

Taking on a leadership position requires a fundamental shift in how you view your role and respond to what is going on around you. Leadership isn't a title, it's about understanding what motivates others and about how you serve those around you.

Learning how you and others succeed together may mean recognizing when you missed that subtle cue and ask for the opportunity to start over again. Leadership is truly like owning a horse you have to earn the opportunity for that occasional free ride.