Horses immediately know the difference between someone who is treating them like a vulnerable being and someone who is treating them like a tool to be “handled”. They recognize those people using them do a job and just “get things done”. The result is compliance from a horse seeking to escape rather than perform.
A common observation is that new leaders struggle to transition “from doing things themselves to getting things done through others”. Unfortunately, this makes “others” sound like tools that need to be used to get results. When we truly open our hearts and see others as humans-like us-we build the connection that allows us to meet people where they are. The result is the treasure of empathy, engagement, and trust. This is where the magic happens, and true leadership begins.
How do you build connection and optimize your leadership?
