The Perfect Metaphor

If March comes in like a lamb, it goes out like a lion. A metaphor that summarizes what weather statistics simply can't express. Metaphors convey values, action and engage the imagination.

Metaphors are much more tenacious than facts. Paul de Man

A metaphor is language that directly compares seemingly unrelated subjects, actively engaging the listener to draw on personal experience and find meaning in what they hear. Long used for story telling, metaphors bridge theory to example, values to action, creating interesting and powerful learning tools. Research(1) supports history, suggesting stories and metaphors have a substantially greater impact on decision making than pure fact.

Constructing knowledge and value through direct experience is another process where meaning is drawn from unlikely partners. Experiential learning involves participants in an activity to apply previous knowledge and concepts for a new perspective on what they may have defined to date.

As a generation of expertise nears retirement concern about leadership, engagement and motivation has organisations looking for innovative learning opportunities. Metaphors and experiential learning are two powerful processes that leaders can employ to influence others.

Leadership is about being, listening, reflecting, responding, evaluating and adapting. Leadership is about having the knowledge, skill and awareness to respond effectively in the moment. Leadership is about authenticity not imitation. A metaphor for leadership then should be able to convey all those qualities.

A horse has long been a metaphor for the workplace. "Handing over the reins of responsibility", "Leading the charge" along with "Don't put the cart before the horse" to list but a few familiar workplace idioms reflecting our relationship with horses.

While our expectations of the horse may have changed our need to keep them involved has re-emerged. Interactions with a horse become a metaphor for leadership learning. A horse can't help but evoke emotion creating an experience that is as personal and unique as each leadership journey.

Working with a horse is about listening. A horse helps us see the impact of our actions, they provide a whole new perspective for reaction in the moment, they allow us to reflect and evaluate and most importantly they allow us to adapt. The horse is the perfect metaphor.

(1) The Differential Impact of Abstract vs. Concrete Information on Decisions Eugene Borgida, Richard E. Nisbett - Journal of Applied Technology 7, no 3 (1977) 258- 271