What Do Horses Have to Do With Business Management?
Quite a bit, actually. Have you seen "The Horse Whisperer?" The horse being trained in the movie, because he had been traumatized in an accident and lost all trust in his relationship to humans, had to be helped.
The trainer develops a relationship with the horse, by learning to speak her language. Rather than "breaking" the horse, we develop an "alpha" relationship with the horse by communicating to her with cues that she understands. Once she respects our leadership, she will literally, "follow us anywhere." The bond created at this moment is solid and long lasting. If we continue to be kind to the horse, she will become a willing partner for life.
Once the horse "joins up" with us, we can train her to do almost anything within her physical capabilities.
The link to management takes a couple of forms. First of all, we must be kind to our employees and customers. "Beating them over the head" to do as we ask is ineffective, at best, and completely counterproductive, at worst.
Instead, we see things from their point of view, show them how it is in their best interest to work with us, and the rest is easy.
The picture below is my husband Tom using round pen training to demonstrate management concepts to a corporate group. I think the Senior Seminar students really enjoy their visit to the Ranch at the end of their Ripon College experience. This experience also epitomizes our teaching philosophy: showing is better than telling.
For more information about the horse training and business read about "Corporate Retreats" at Cedar Ridge Ranch.
Links to information about how lessons with horses can help people to become better people and managers can be found at:
