Let's talk Leadership...and horses

Leadership is often discussed in neat frameworks, models, and strategy decks. I've seen - and used - some great ones by leaders and coaches who are more formally studied in leadership than me. In reality, leadership is lived in conversations that don't go as planned, teams working under pressure, decisions made with incomplete information, and moments when clarity matters more than certainty. My time working with teams in wildland fire management taught me a lot about those last two points...sometimes the need to act now far outweighs extensive exploration of information and waiting for absolute certainty. Leadership means embracing uncertainty, difficult conversations, pressure and things that don't go according to plan.

I've spent decades working alongside some really great (and some not so great) leaders and teams, navigating change and complexity and developing and delivering important public services. I've learned from each of these experiences and the work that happens in the meeting rooms and planning sessions, on the shop floor and in the field. And...in the paddock with horses.

You are probably raising your eyebrow at me now. Good!

I've loved horses since I was little. And I've learned so much from them. How? Well, here's the thing: horses don't care about titles, resumes or how confident we sound. They respond to what's actually happening, how and what is being said and what we are feeling in the moment. They look for clarity, consistency, intention, respect and action. Maybe even more important, they respond to waht isn't present - body language that may contradict what is said, inaction or indecision, feelings that we aren't even aware of. That makes them remarkably effective partners in leadership and team development.

In this series of talks - about Leadership and Horses - I would like to share with you some of my thoughts and my learning from leaders, teams, individuals and from the horses I've known and worked with. I'm hoping its a chance to share some of the support, guidance, coaching and experience that others - including my horses - have given me. Tracey