Horses for leaders or equine-assisted learning for leadership is a form of experiential learning that involves working with horses to develop a range of leadership skills. Equine-assisted learning can help leaders in so many ways.
Communication
When you are a leader you need to be able to influence others and how and what you communicate matters. When you are leader you need to be able to show up and show people you care. So your communication is essential. Horses can show you how to develop your non-verbal communication. Horses are highly attuned to non-verbal communication, which means that they can pick up on even subtle cues from you. This makes them excellent partners for developing skills in non-verbal communication, such as body language and emotional regulation. This is a skill you cannot learn without practice and practical experience.
Trust and Respect
Trust and respect are the key ingredients in any relationship. Even in a team. Because horses are social animals they rely on trust and respect to function effectively in a herd. They show you in real-time effective ways to develop trust and respect. If you are authentic in your dealings with them they will show you trust and respect. Developing a trusting and respectful relationship with a horse can help leaders understand the importance of building similar relationships with their team members.
Emotional Intelligence
Because horses are sensitive and highly attuned to emotions they can show us how to be emotionally intelligent. They can help leaders develop emotional intelligence by providing immediate feedback on how their emotions are affecting their interactions with the horse. Horses will react to your emotions and allow you the opportunity to practice your calm-assertive leadership skills that can influence others.
Problem-Solving
The core principals of equine-assisted learning are problem-solving. Working with horses can present a range of challenges that require creative problem-solving skills. Leaders who participate in equine-assisted learning can develop their ability to think outside the box and find innovative solutions to complex problems.
Overall, equine-assisted learning can be a powerful tool for leaders because it provides a unique and immersive learning experience that can help them develop a range of important skills in a relatively short amount of time.
As a CEO, managing people is undoubtedly one of the toughest parts of the job. You might have a brilliant business idea, excellent strategy, and a great team to work with, but managing diverse personalities, skill sets, and expectations can be a daunting task. Whether you’re leading a small startup or a large corporation, managing people effectively is key to achieving your goals and staying ahead of the competition.
People are messy and life is messy but as a CEO you are required to create order, structure, and process. Managing people is the hardest part of being a CEO so what you can do to overcome these challenges?
People are complex
Managing people is not like managing a machine or a process. People are complex beings with emotions, desires, and unique personalities. They have different motivators, communication styles, and work preferences. As a CEO, you need to understand your employees’ strengths, weaknesses, and personality traits to effectively manage and motivate them. This requires a lot of time, effort, and patience.
Managing expectations
When you’re in a leadership position, everyone looks up to you for guidance and direction. Your employees have high expectations of you, and it’s your responsibility to meet or exceed those expectations. This means setting clear goals, communicating effectively, and providing regular feedback. You need to ensure that everyone is aligned with the company’s vision, mission, and values. Managing expectations is challenging, especially when you have to balance conflicting demands from different stakeholders.
Dealing with conflicts
Conflicts are inevitable in any workplace, and as a CEO, you need to be prepared to handle them effectively. Conflict resolution requires emotional intelligence, empathy, and active listening skills. You need to be able to identify the root cause of the conflict and find a mutually beneficial solution. This can be particularly challenging when dealing with difficult personalities or high-stress situations.
Building a strong culture
Culture is the backbone of any successful organization. As a CEO, you need to create a positive work environment where people feel valued, respected, and motivated. This means fostering a sense of belonging, encouraging open communication, and recognizing and rewarding high performers. Building a strong culture takes time and effort, and it requires a continuous focus on employee engagement and satisfaction.
So, what can you do to overcome these challenges?
Firstly, invest in your employees’ personal and professional development. Provide them with the resources, training, and support they need to succeed. Secondly, communicate regularly and transparently. Keep your employees informed about the company’s performance, goals, and challenges. Thirdly, lead by example. Model the behavior and attitudes you want to see in your employees. Finally, create a culture of trust and psychological safety. Encourage your employees to share their ideas, concerns, and feedback without fear of retribution.
In conclusion, managing people is one of the hardest parts of being a CEO, but it’s also one of the most rewarding. By understanding the complexities of human behavior, managing expectations, dealing with conflicts, and building a strong culture, you can create a thriving workplace that drives business success. Remember, your employees are your most valuable asset, and investing in their growth and development will pay dividends in the long run.
Ever felt dog tired and just needed a little something to pick you up and make you feel better? Most people buy a new dress, maybe a new lipstick. Well, my retail therapy was buying a horse. After years of not owning a horse with nowhere to put one, I decided that the only thing going to make me feel better was buying a horse. I look back now and I am grateful to my ever-forgiving and patient husband who tried to be the rational voice. He was solid until I showed him a picture of a horse called “Ben” (my husband’s name) whilst emotionally explaining that this would make me so happy. He reluctantly agreed that I could call and find out if he was still available.
Well as it turns out he was gone but by then my husband had agreed to the idea and in my usual fashion, I was all in. I hunted around for a “cheap horse” because we couldn’t afford an expensive one. I found just the one and he sounded perfect. A gorgeous chestnut gelding off-the-track thoroughbred would be great for beginners. I immediately packed everyone up in the car to go and just look at him right away.
Initial warnings
In hindsight, I should have known that there would be an issue with this beautiful horse. The person I bought him from only rode him for a short time and she wasn’t comfortable cantering him. He was already caught and saddle up when we went to look at him, there were so many red flags but, I was hooked. He was the first horse I went to see in person and I just had to have him.
Now I have bought a horse but, I have no way to transport him, no place to put him, no vet checks, no saddle, not a brush, not even a lead rope. I had nothing but the idea that I wanted a horse. Well, I solved all those problems quick smart and bought him home to an agistment property that I didn’t even visit. My cheap horse is now getting quite expensive and I haven’t even done anything with him yet.
I should have realised again that there would be problems when the farrier comes out to the property to do his shoes he says to me “he still has race shoes on, he is not long off the track!” and “this is your beginner horse?” Ohh no… But what would he know, I had just bought the horse of my dreams. This was a dream come true and no one was going to dampen my spirits.
More issues
Well, “H” as he became to be known, had a couple of issues. He would buck every time you asked for a canter, he wouldn’t get on a horse float, he pulled away when being lunged and was terrified of so many things. At times he was simply dangerous to be around.
One of the many injuries
After numerous broken bones and hospital visits and so many falls from this horse. I knew I needed help. My dream was turning into a nightmare.
H plays Santa’s helper
I got two different horse trainers to teach him to load on a float. Because they could get him on once but that was it. I wanted to be able to take my fantastic horse out of the paddock. I wanted to compete and go to the riding club and enjoy time with him. I knew I needed help but I didn’t know what help I needed.
So this is how my journey with horses and emotional intelligence started. It started with a horse who I loved but couldn’t do anything with and thought someone else could fix him.
What I have discovered over the years is that to “fix a horse” I needed to fix myself. So the journey begins.
There are countless ways to improve your overall life. However, the chances are high that you’re overlooking one of the major areas: your emotional intelligence. Improving your emotional intelligence can create a significant difference when it comes to your happiness and success. If you’re looking to increase your emotional intelligence, here are 5 ways you try.
Find Stress-Relieving Techniques
One of the easiest ways to improve your emotional intelligence is to determine your sources of stress and find a way to limit them. Stress-relief measures, like meditation, deep breathing, and yoga, might work for some people, but others might find hitting the speed bag or going for a run to be more effective at reducing stress. Finding out what works best for you. When you are in the moment and relaxed it is much easier to be your calm assertive self. It can help you become more emotionally intelligent in no time.
Take a Pause Before You Judge
Judging others is often a knee-jerk reaction that has become second nature to many of us. However, if you want to increase your emotional intelligence, you need to identify your judgmental thoughts and try to pause before you make a quick judgment. When you take the time to think about it, you may find that you are not upset with the person, but you are dealing with stress in another part of your life.
When I stop and ask myself why is this making me react rather than respond? More often than not it is because the situation is triggering some past trauma. It has nothing to do with the person or the moment in front of me.
Become Aware of How You Feel
Rather than immediately trying to combat negative feelings, take some time to sit with them for a while first. Understanding what it means for you to feel anger, resentment, or anger without an immediate fix can help you address what is causing you to feel those feelings and allows you to find a healthier way to deal with those emotions. Understanding and naming your emotions gives you power. It is possible to feel many emotions at once. You can be angry and happy all at the same time. One example, that comes to mind is when I lost my youngest child who was about 9 at the time and he was meant to be at home doing homework. When I got home the house was empty. After I looked in every corner of the house, I then starting going up and down the streets looking for him and had no idea where he was. Now in a panicked and frantic state, I thought I have to call the police because my son is missing. Soon after the police arrived at my doorstep while taking my statement my son appeared. He was just next door playing with a new friend he made that afternoon. He hadn’t heard me calling out his name up and down the street.
I had 100 emotions all at the same time, embarrassment, happiness, relieved, and anger, are the first few that came to mind. I went backwards and forwards through all the emotions in a very short period of time. This is why sometimes it is difficult to name our emotions and what we are feeling at a particular moment.
Learn to Take Criticism
No one likes to feel as though they are being criticised. However, learning to accept constructive criticism is a significant part of being emotionally intelligent. Helping trusted people give you feedback allows you to see your blind spots but be careful who you take critism from and how it is delivered.
The best technique for giving or receiving criticism is a “shit sandwich”. Start with the positive, put the suggested improvement in and then close it with another positive. This way feedback can be heard and actioned.
When we understand our authentic selves we can choose to adapt and change. We need advisors in our corner to help us learn how to be a better version of ourselves. Learning how, what and who to believe with feedback is a massive step toward increasing your emotional intelligence.
Accept Your Weaknesses
No one is perfect, and that’s alright. However, if you are looking to increase your emotional intelligence, it is imperative that you accept your weakness and learn from them, rather than simply denying that you have them. Learning to accept your shortcomings can significantly improve your emotional intelligence.
Emotional intelligence is an essential aspect of both your personal and professional success. These five methods for increasing your emotional intelligence can significantly improve your life.
Recently I was at a leadership forum and casually asked a colleague, “Have you got any plans over Christmas? Are you going away?” and he simply said, “I am resting hard”.
Well my first response was to burst out laughing and then the more I thought about this statement the more I thought that this is genius!
We all work hard, we play hard, we wear this like a badge of honour. Our exhaustion is seen as a status symbol. When you ask someone how are you, how often do you hear the response “busy”.
What COVID has brought home to me is burnout is real and so many people I know have got major health issues from not resting. It is simply not a great culture where we take pride in our hustle and collective fatigue. It’s not ok, and we shouldn’t keep on soldiering on through our exhaustion.
Resting
“Resting” is a simple concept that can take some time to master. It’s the art of disconnecting from your work, friends, and whatever else so you can relax and rejuvenate. If you don’t rest, you’ll burn out.
We see resting as a soft option and feel guilty for resting because we have been told if we are not busy, we are failing. But the opposite is so true. Resting more will actually give you more energy and make you feel better and perform better.
Sleep is the best performance-enhancing drug ever!! I have experienced extreme ends of the rest continuum. Ask any new mum with an unsettled child what lack of sleep does to you. Any parent who is sleep-deprived will tell you emphatically how much better he/she feels with a decent nights sleep.
But it isn’t just sleep that is important for rest. You need to create habits that allow you to switch off. The first step to resting more is getting into a habit of resting every day. This will prevent you from being overworked and burnt out. The second step to rest is using exercises like yoga and meditation to help you relax and reset your mind. They are beneficial to both physical and mental health, but also help us enjoy life more.
Resting and recharging your batteries is about ensuring you take time to do the things that give you energy and fill you up. Everyone has a place, hobby or exercise which gives them joy. Mindfulness comes to people in so many different ways. It could be as simple as a walk around the block with the dog.
Leaders Need Rest Too
Even the most hard-charging business leaders need time to recharge their batteries. We all know that leading a company requires long hours and tons of energy, but it takes much more than that to stay sharp and motivated.
Just as a machine needs maintenance, so does the human body. Our bodies require rest and relaxation in order to function at the highest level. Some people take a lot of time off, while others prefer to get away from their daily grind by getting outdoors and exercising with friends. Some people prefer to take an hour to reflect on their goals with a quiet walk around the block. Or maybe it is scheduling your regular yoga session.
Without rest, you cannot find the creativity and mental function required to solve complex problems. You will find you have more capacity to help and support everyone around you if you help yourself first.
Rest Guilt-Free
Today, most people feel guilty when they take time off. It’s as if the world is going to stop spinning and explode if they aren’t working. They have an underlying belief that time spent away from work is wasted time, which only causes more stress. But what if I told you that taking a break actually makes you more productive? That’s right! When you take time off, your mind is more relaxed and ready for work. And there’s more good news! Taking regular breaks will eventually make you more productive and allow you to get more done in less time
Work at Resting
Imagine if we put as much time and effort into learning how to rest as we did learning a new skill. Resting Hard is a concept that requires effort, it requires conscious time, put it in the diary. Prioritise it. Your body and mind will thank you. Your family will thank you. But also your staff will thank you for bringing your best version to work. We are not built to squeeze more into our days. Even God had to take a day off. So if it is good enough for him then I might just work on doing it too.
So for now I am going to work on simply “resting hard”.
Here are the top 5 ways to boost your emotional intelligence in order to find success. If you want to succeed in both your professional and personal life, there are a broad range of skills that can help. However, the emerging research is emotional intelligence is the most important skill you need to develop. Your vision and fresh and creative ideas are critical aspects of success. Leadership requires a number of human skills as well as technical skills for success.
Great leaders make themselves and their personal improvement a lifelong project. They actively seek out learning. They also seek out people who will tell them the truth about how they come across to others. In addition, tell them areas where they can make improvements. They look for organizations that will accommodate them or spend money on a coach who will provide them with honest feedback. Great leaders recognize that they are a work in progress and are always looking for ways to improve.
Develop Your Listening Skills
Good leaders are always aware of how essential listening skills are for success. They recognize that everyone has the desire to be heard. Not only do you receive more crucial information when you develop your listening skills, but you are better able to connect with others by picking up meanings and messages through nonverbal cues.
Show a Genuine Interest in Others
Not only do emotionally intelligent people learn the names of everyone that works at their company, but they also make it a point to find out as much about others as possible. They strive to find out what matters to them, whether it is their family, special interests, or hobbies. Showing a personal interest in those around you show others that they are valued as people, rather than just cogs in the machine.
Develop Your Ability to Manage Emotions
Developing your ability to manage not only yours but others’ emotions is an important skill to have. Leaders that possess high emotional intelligence can process information and respond only after they’ve thought about the situation. Emotionally intelligent people can pick up the underlying feelings behind the words spoken.
Develop a Strong Sense of Appreciation
Great leaders, with high emotional intelligence, are always appreciative and aware that they have others to thank for them to where they are. One way you can develop more gratitude is to keep a gratitude journal and write down three things you are grateful for every day. It helps to maintain a positive attitude and their motivation high throughout the day.
High emotional intelligence is an essential aspect of success. Incorporate these five tips into your life and you can help boost your emotional intelligence.
