Horses: Kinesthetic Leadership Development Trainers

By Solomon Masala | Team Building

Jun 06

As part of our team building training, Source Consulting Group has discovered a way to deliver a life-changing, visceral, immediate-feedback experience of effective leadership development.  And it can be done in as little as 2 hours.

It’s the Equine Experience at Travaasa, Austin.

As consultants devoted to excellence in evolutionary leadership, we know the power that learning simulations can deliver.  Simulations and kinesthetic experiences provide a felt sense of expanded awareness, whole brain integrated intelligences and beneficial, embodied change. That is why we’re adding horses to our team of facilitators.  Well, not exactly, and the horses do become trainers.

Leaders who can stay self aware, relaxed, present and attentive to their leadership energy can build essential trust quickly and respond to the rapid changing needs and innovations of their team.  They know how to galvanize energy to take teams to greater heights of excellence and high performance.  In this regard, horses are incredible leadership development trainers.

Horses have an innate ability to read body language, sense beyond superficial cues and relate to their herd with clarity, honesty and safety.  Working with them offers vast and immediate lessons in communication, self awareness and leadership development that are instantly relevant to daily life.

We recently joined forces with the Equine Leadership Team at Travaasa as part of our training for Seton Hays Hospital Senior Managers.  Participants observed the horses, groomed them, and then experienced a powerful learning activity in the ring – all without ever having to mount or ride the horse.

The managers reported learning the importance of being present, connected, clear and direct in their communication.  They received feedback on the impact of their passivity, fear, aggression, disconnection or complacency, as well as all the ways in which their willingness to stay present, relaxed and clear created trust as a leader.

Whether conscious or unconscious to us, horses can help us became aware of the confusion, limitation, lack of clarity, presence or leadership confidence we hold.  They offer immediate feedback by responding to our focus, return of respect, clear directions and relaxed, firm guidance.  While we can talk and read circles around developing these skills in the guise of “leadership development,” working with horses gives the actual lived experience – to build skills and the self awareness to change behavior and grow.

These senior level leaders received a profound reference point for what it is (and what it is not) to be effective, clear, trusted leaders with whom their people would want to follow.   As a kinesthetic leadership development tool, the Equine experience showed our clients that connection and trust cannot be pretended, rushed or treated as another goal or “to do” item to check off a list.

We invite you to join us for a powerful leadership and team development process with the Equine Team at Travaasa, Austin.  Come check out these unique leadership development trainers for yourself.

The learning here is vast and unique to each individual.   Our facilitation helps clients to directly see the application and relevance to daily life.  As a result, teams can evolve and catapult into new possibilities of learning and innovation.  Whatever your team’s skill level or current culture, we are poised to support you to excel exponentially; give us a call.

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About the Author

Solomon is a trainer and consultant who works with organizations and teams in a graceful, energizing, and insightful manner - transforming the individuals and the whole. Inspiring, palpable and sustainable, positive change is always a result.