Many years ago I traveled with a friend to the desolate reaches of northwest Colorado, near Baggs WY. I wrote about it here.
One of the big attractions for me was seeing the herds of feral horses roaming the sandstone, sage and grass-covered hills. I’ve always been a horse-lover, so finding them there was pure joy. They were skittish, so we couldn’t get too close. The one time we did creep up on foot, it provoked a charge by a herd of ten which thankfully ended when they wheeled and ran in another direction.
Charging is one of the few ways horses have to protect themselves. Because they are prey animals, they must be constantly on guard.
“There’s nothing so good for the inside of a man as the outside of a horse.” —Lord Palmerston, 19th-century British statesman
Lissa Pohl, an expert in Equine Assisted Learning says about horses, “They are masters of reading the environment to determine whether they and their herd are safe. This awareness alerts them to any potential threat from predators. Because humans are predators and on top of the food chain, they rarely exercise the instinctual muscles of noticing what is happening in the present moment.”
I don’t agree. I know plenty of people, many in leadership roles, who are constantly scanning “the horizon” to determine the wisest course of action. Good leaders study human behavior and act accordingly. And if we look closely, we can see there are patterns to their behaviors that serve as an example for all of us to follow, no matter what role we play.
“Resolutions: So many will fail; NOT because they didn’t set goals, but because they didn’t set behaviors.” — Steve Maraboli
6 Behaviors of Great Leaders
- They’re not afraid to think creatively. Great leaders entertain ideas from all comers, even from those who have disagreed with them in the past. They recognize people who are idea generators and seek them out when challenges and opportunities appear.
- They get the lay of the land. Great leaders don’t barge right into the fray without first assessing the people, environment, challenges, strengths and weaknesses of the organization. They figure out who they can trust and who they can’t before taking action.
- They exude energy. These leaders fairly crackle with vitality and spirit. They convey a positive perspective in order to motivate others and then they maintain a constructive momentum when obstacles discourage even the best performers.
- They telegraph what they plan to do. Great leaders understand that surprising people isn’t the best way to gain cooperation. In this way, they set expectations so people have time to adjust their thinking and adapt behaviors.
- They follow through. There’s nothing worse than someone who makes promises that aren’t kept. But while it’s normal for people to change their minds, great leaders make it a priority to deliver on what they say they will do. They rarely drop the ball.
- They hold people accountable. Everyone makes mistakes and great leaders know how to coach people towards better performance. But we’ve all seen what happens when someone is allowed to continue wreaking destruction without being called on it. The “Broken Windows Theory” states that small infractions can lead to more egregious “crimes.” It creates a toxic environment. People see that some can break the rules and get away with it while top performers eventually seek out better places to work. Great leaders establish boundaries and expect people to meet clear standards.
“We can serve our weakness or we can serve our purpose. Not both.” — Mother Cabrini
Leadership isn’t complicated but neither is it easy. It takes a person who is self-aware enough to mitigate their own weaknesses, read others as well as the environment, build a competent team and act under pressure. Whether it’s in a military unit, a corporation or a government, great leaders, like feral horses, strive to keep their “herd” safe.