Those among us who know their way around horses know that these are wonderful creatures. A horse is fierce, powerful and also tender and playful. Above all, they have a great sense of empathy towards the people that work with them.
And it is precisely this 'sixth sense' that allows them to 'feel' what a person feels. And that's a great quality when you ride them, take care of them or are just around them.
When people deal with other people, that empathic quality often seems lost. There are rules, norms and commitments. There are job titles and responsibilities to take into account. And often, when people want to get something done. They tend to 'tell' others what they should do. Or they 'explain' what's right and what's not.
When such a person is confronted with another being that is unable to understand the manager-jargon — such as a horse — it is often confronting and frustrating. The horse will get a quick sense if you are congruent or not. If you aren't, it won't comply. If you are, the horse will do as you expect. Just because it 'feels like it'.
And that is exactly what this coaching technique that involves confronting leaders with animals is all about. As a participant to the coaching exercise, you are tasked to guide the horse and make him / her do particular things. At first, these tasks don't seem all that difficult, until you are confronted with the horse seemingly uninterested, distant or even violent.
Shouting doesn't help. Neither does waving and gesturing. So how do you go about this then? How do you get the horse to approach you? To trust you? That involves an introspection and alignment of your own sense of purpose and becoming fully congruent about the task.
In the meantime, some people will 'disconnect', seemingly unable to get to that point. Maybe they got afraid, or frustrated. Or maybe they don't understand what true leadership is all about. I don't judge. But it makes me aware that the path of exploration of one person is different than that of another.
When I first experienced an EquiCoaching session, I wasn't sure about it either. I also found it confronting. But the last two sessions, I noticed that the horses who participated in the session felt attracted to me. They felt at ease and I felt congruent being around them.
And that, my friends, is a great feeling. It definitely improved my attitude towards people as well. And I believe it made me a better person and a better leader.
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