HOLD YOUR HORSES

What if I told you that I can identify your leadership style just by observing how you hold the reins of a horse? It correlates to how much control vs. autonomy you give your people. We recently hosted the largest leadership team we have ever had at our ranch. Sixteen horses! Most of the riders were very inexperienced. This dynamic played out as we trained them how to rein their horses. When faced with the challenge of controlling a 1,000-pound animal, some instinctively gripped tight and pulled back on the reins while others barely held on, leaving the horse in charge.

What a perfect metaphor for the paradox of leadership. The trick is to provide enough control and structure, so they know where they are going while providing enough autonomy and freedom to stretch their legs. Much of the current literature on leadership focuses on providing more freedom, but it is a delicate balance. I recently heard a commentator say, "he was given his head too soon," referring to a young politician. This is actually a horse idiom. Having unbridled freedom didn't work out for the politician, and it doesn't work out riding horses. 

I just returned from visiting my brother in Europe. He is experiencing what I did 15 years ago, raising a large family with small children. I was amazed at the discipline and structure he maintains in his home. This is far from the relaxed, permissive approach we took with our kids. Neither approach works if taken to the extreme. Notice how you are holding your horse. Depending on your natural tendency, either tighten or loosen your grip.