As we all know, leadership is as much about energy and somatic body cues as it is about the verbal and written communication side of it. That energy we project can be the loudest part of our message, and often triggers different parts of the brain that direct the receiver to fight, flight, freeze or collaborate. While reactions such as anger or retreat can signal something is awry, it’s often difficult to truly understand on how people are relating to our energy as the receiver’s reactions are influenced by a complex layer of their past experiences, politics, societal and cultural expectations, biases, emotions, and personal motives.
While humans are constantly balancing the past, present and future in their everyday actions, horses (equines) live in the present. Being social herd animals, horses have a strong bias towards being collaborative, but are extremely sensitive to slight changes in the environment, making their reactions to individuals immediate.
After that first interaction, the true power of these animals living in the present comes into play. As the participants work with the facilitator to understand why the horse is reacting the way it is, the participant tries again. Seeing the changes in the horse’s demeanor and cooperation creates a visceral experience that allows the participant to receive instant feedback on how changes in the way we “show up” impacts those around us.