What Can Leaders Learn from Horses? With Ed Renshaw

Gerrit Pelzer and Martin Aldergård delve into an unexpected but insightful theme: what leaders can learn from horses. Joined by guest Ed Renshaw, an executive coach with expertise in equine-assisted leadership development, they explore the parallels between interacting with horses and leading people, providing a unique perspective on leadership dynamics.Highlights:Purposeful Leadership: Horses, like people, respond to clear, authentic leadership. Ed explains how horses mirror human energy and intentions, offering leaders immediate feedback on their behavior. Horses thrive under purposeful direction, and this mirrors what human teams expect from their leaders.Horses as Mirrors: One of the central concepts discussed is how horses, being prey animals with a heightened fight-or-flight response, serve as perfect mirrors for human behavior. If a leader approaches a horse with too much anxiety or uncertainty, the horse will react similarly, providing an unfiltered reflection of how leaders might be perceived by their teams.Non-Bias and Vulnerability: Horses don't care about a person's title or position—they only respond to how a person shows up in the moment. This non-judgmental nature strips away ego, requiring leaders to be truly present, vulnerable, and authentic—traits that are critical for fostering trust and followership in human leadership contexts as well.Feedback and Self-Reflection: Working with horses brings up powerful insights quickly, potenitally much faster than traditional coaching or leadership development programs might. Ed shares real-life examples where leaders were humbled by the honest feedback provided by their equine counterparts, leading to profound realizations about their leadership style and impact.Key Takeaways:Instant Feedback on Leadership Style: Opposed to collecting feedback from humans, horses provide immediate, visceral responses. If a horse doesn't follow you, it might indicate that something is off with your leadership approach.The Importance of Connection: Building a connection with a horse is similar to building human relationships at work. A leader must create trust, be aware of energy, and be able to shift between directive and supportive behaviors. This reflects a core challenge of leading people in today's complex work environments.Overcoming Skepticism: While leaders may be skeptical about learning from horses, Ed shares examples that demonstrate how unconventional methods like equine-assisted leadership development can offer powerful, lasting lessons for corporate leaders.Reflection Questions:How do I show up as a leader in critical moments? Am I purposeful and clear, or am I sending mixed signals to my team?What feedback do I receive from my team's body language or non-verbal responses, and how can I become more attuned to this?How can I create more opportunities for honest feedback in my leadership, even without access to a horse?About Ed RenshawTo learn more about Ed Renshaw and his work with equine-assisted leadership, connect with him on LinkedIn.About Second CrackMore information about us and our work is available on our website: secondcrackleadership.comFor questions, feedback, or suggestions, or to explore how we can help you develop your leadership, email us at hello@secondcrackleadership.com.Connect with us on LinkedIn:Martin AldergårdGerrit Pelzer