Characteristics of Inspiring Leadership

While it may seem we have little agency to affect much of what is transpiring in the world today, we can always focus our energy on being the change we wish to see. What type of leadership do you desire to see in your local community, in your workplace, and on the world’s stage? How can you embody that type of leadership in every aspect of your life and inspire others to do the same?

Much of my work is to help business leaders and entrepreneurs uncover and employ values-driven leadership that is true to who they are and calibrated to the task of moving their business forward. I have found that the strongest leaders frequently check in on their leadership skills and fine-tune them as necessary as the dynamics of the market environment shift around them.

Likewise, I regularly reflect on my own leadership style, and I had a wonderful opportunity to do so recently in partnership with one of my favourite leadership development resources: horses.

“The strongest leaders frequently check in on their leadership skills and fine-tune them as necessary as the dynamics of the market environment shift around them. ”

One of the most powerful ways to test your leadership capacity is to get a horse to follow you as you walk. This may sound simple, but it is anything but. Horses are prey animals, and we are predators. Their finely-tuned sense of threat has them ready to flee or freeze at any sign of danger. As herd animals, they want to follow a leader who can provide clear direction and a sense of purpose with calm, collected energy.

Recently I had the opportunity to do this with a herd of Thoroughbreds who were unknown to me, giving me the added challenge of quickly gaining their trust. This is not an easy task with a feisty 500 kilogram creature bred and trained to run. 

Here are some top leadership tips that were confirmed for me:

1. Approach unknowns with a mindset of curiosity.

When I first approached one of these beautiful horses, she showed no signs of wanting to interact. In fact, she turned her head away from me and gave me a side-eye that I recognized as a firm warning that she would prefer to be undisturbed. So I stood and observed her for a while, learning what I could from her while respecting her boundaries. After a few minutes, she started mirroring my curiosity, showing more interest in interacting with me.

2. Maintain your ground while respecting others’ needs.

As a person who has frequently been the only woman in the room, and often (back in the day) the youngest in the room, I have learned to own my space and protect it. While this horse didn’t want me to approach her, I was able to communicate to her through body language that I was going to stand my ground, maintain my boundaries, and not be intimidated by her size and strength. Like humans, horses respect individuals who respect themselves, and this helped build a sense of trust and safety between us. 

“Like humans, horses respect individuals who respect themselves, and this helped build a sense of trust and safety between us.”

3. Provide clear purpose and direction.

I was given the challenge of leading this horse around a field, but there is simply no way to force a 500 kilogram Thoroughbred to go somewhere she doesn’t want to go. The key is to influence her to want to follow me. This meant providing clear, purposeful direction. The only way we can do this is by confidently channeling our energy in such a way that it attracts horses – and people – to join us on our journey.

“The only way we can do this is by confidently channeling our energy in such a way that it attracts horses – and people – to join us on our journey.”

4. Expect partnership, not followship.

Given confidence and purpose alone, however, this horse would still be unlikely to follow me. Simply marching ahead with my eyes on the goal wouldn’t be enough to persuade her to join me. Like humans, horses thrive when they feel a sense of connection and belonging. So I had to involve her in the activity of moving forward by inviting her to come along with me on my journey. This is energetic work that can be challenging, but can be achieved with good coaching and practice.

Lara Holliday is an executive and business coach and the Proprietress of Shore Hall Manor House and Gardens

If you’re interested in testing and amplifying your leadership skills, reach out to me.

I run private and group leadership development sessions with my horses at Shore Hall Manor House and Gardens.

Learn more about it here.

Thank you Eileen Harte and Gaurav Rampal for giving me this opportunity to learn and grow with your beautiful horses.