In just one session developing the confidence to lead…

I was lucky enough to catch up with a group of leaders who did my “emotional intelligence workshop” with horses and asked for feedback.  Their reflections where more powerful than I could have imagined.  Most importantly they reflecting on developing their confidence to lead effectively.  These are their own personal insights and what they learnt.

These were their reflections more than a month after they did just one session.

I realised that I am always jumping in and being first.  This didn’t allow me any additional time to observation to learn.  In trying to understand how to get it right and be the best at it that I didn’t try and be as present. My focus was on getting it right.  I have been practising patience and not rushing everything. 

It was understanding the vulnerability of a close connection and being present with myself.  I learnt how to be more self-aware of being present in the room.

left feeling focused and happy, with purpose and lowered the anxiety and the feeling has lasted

This made me think about how to influence the other decision makers so they get what’s going on.

Thoroughly enjoyed the session.  I had so much energy for days after the session it was so inspiring. 

Powerful and relatable, giving you the know how to deal with other people and your team

My confidence improved as a leader, I have done lots of thinking about the session afterwards and still got more days later because it influences how you lead.

Love it so much there were practical tips on what to do.  I could use straight away.  Being present and how you are feeling in the moment.  Made me understand how to relate your behaviours to moods.

It’s a bio-feedback mechanism with a horse about your self-efficacy.  My learning from the session was I understood how to be up with intensity but with clear direction and focus.

I started with a fear of failure and feeling competitive.  My ego meant I didn’t want to be the person who couldn’t do it.  It was a new and different experience, I don’t have anything to do with horses so was intimidated and scared.  I felt vulnerable and way outside my comfort zone.  The connection I got was so refreshing and a great way to build a shared experience.  It was a completely new context to make the unconscious thoughts into a competence. 

It was feeling like a pressurised situation where you go to a feeling of threat and try to make it about me. But then learning how to make it not about me and about being in control.  The experience connected a lot of dots and good personal values.  Its things we should be working on every day and when you have mastered it in one situation doesn’t mean you have it secure.  

It is an effective coaching and leadership tool.  It improved my relationship with my daughter.  I become more self-aware of my behaviour towards her.  I have been making a conscious effect and our relationship has changed.

Insights and Changes in Emotional Intelligence

My insights where that everyone got something different out of the session and it all related back to improving their emotional intelligence.  The really interesting part was they could translate and put into action immediately.  It was about understanding that everyone has something different that they see and feel.  But it all relates back to the 5 key elements; Self-awareness, Self-regulation, Motivation, Empathy, and Social skills. 

I can’t wait to do this again.