Lessons in Leadership, Teamwork, and Resilience from Serenity Ranch
Do you ever get yourself between a rock and a hard place? On Sunday morning when I was bringing Ace in, I was. He had gone through the gate and while I was closing it he rubbed up against the fence perpendicular to the gate. Then he backed up and I was stuck between him and the gate. It wouldn’t have been so bad until I heard my shoulder pop. The pain was excruciating.
In hindsight, I should have turned him around to face the gate and myself. You know what they say about hindsight.
I have been in spots like this before. Sometimes with similar outcomes. Mostly much less severe.
Fortunately, I have some people here to support me and I could mostly rest on Sunday. I feel much better after a night’s sleep.
The Importance of Support Systems in Difficult Times
Being alone on this ranch can be a bit daunting. Last year I got into some deep mud and when my son saw the picture, he asked how I had gotten out alone.
This winter it was bitterly cold. The waterer and the pipes in the barn had frozen so I had to carry water from the house to the horses. I would call my son who was about 30 minutes away and chat with him on the phone while I was doing chores. This was about three times a day. I told him if he thought I was hurt he was supposed to call 911 because I could have frozen before he got here.
Lessons in Compassion and Leadership from the Horses
Working in a team can be similar. You have one member of the team who’s struggling. It might be some personal stress or something they weren’t quite ready to handle. Does the team get together and help the weak link in that moment? Or do they let that person struggle putting the whole project in jeopardy?
As the team leader, how would you like them to work? The horses have an amazing ability to show your team more about communication and teamwork than you would ever imagine. It’s truly beautiful. They are able to share their energy with humans and teach them compassion and leadership.
At Serenity Ranch, I offer PlayShops with the horses to help your teams work better together. I also offer individual sessions for those team members who may be struggling. Click the button below to set up a time to talk with me about your team.
Make a Connection in the comments below.
Onward!
