The horse as a teacher in training sessions of leadership, individual and team development (team building):
Goal...
Professional and personal effectiveness and leadership proves itself in crucial situations depending on the leader's capacities.
Training sessions bring many new views and knowledge. This regularly produces resistance to convert it into practice. It may even become a trick which will not hold out for a long time in this world. We are inclined to rationalize or justify our actions by hindsight . We get easily entangled in contradictions, images and projections by which we lose balance, clarity and influence.
Why horses???
The essence of a horse is its being here and now. A horse reacts immediately to the messages it receives. In a herd there are three main principles: leadership (trust), communication and co-operation, friendship (respect).
Horses are not able to think like we humans do. They are not troubled by images, they react immediately and exactly to the way they are being approached. Horses accept anybody who takes the lead and who is able and willing to be a leader. They resist anybody who tries to play the role of master. Their physical strength is many times bigger, yet they respect personal power. Horses are normal, they live from a central point and do not know contradictions. Horses are so to speak a mirror for those who approach them. The most exceptional thing in getting on with horses is the fact that you can immediately see what messages you have conveyed. The way in which you approach a horse tells much of the way you make contact. You'll look into the mirror and you'll experience the way of taking the lead, to put on authority, to set limits, fear, enthusiasm. You'll also find out whether your natural qualities are in balance.
The body, body language (action) is the best feedback mechanism we know. It tells us exactly how the tuning between our thinking, feelings and actions is. Horses react from their natural being to the subtle signals that are broadcast energetically. They give feedback on the influence/action you have got in a direct and confronting way.
Subjects with which horses are an efficient means to make behaviour and inner attitude visible and perceptibel are:…
- How do I experience my values? (vision and reality)
- How respectful am I to myself and to others? (distant and nearby)
- How do I put in my self confidence? (dependent - independent)
- Powerful and clear communication (goal directed and searching)
- How do I use my authority as a leader? (strict and tolerant)
- How do I distinguish negativism and reply to it? (dealing with resistance)
- How do I give and take the lead? (leading and following)
- How do I stay focused and goal directed? (stress and relaxation)
- How do I set limits and create adequate space? (conflict and harmony)
- How do thinking, feeling and action stay tuned? (equality and tuning, I and the other)
At all times we must be aware of the effects that horses may bring with them. Horses have a character, too. The horset hat are used for tarining sessions are well in balance and are open to co-operation. Negative behaviour will upset the horses.
With some simple exercises with the horse you may experience how:
- you take or ask the lead, or play the master,
- you set limits, get taken over or lose contact;
- clear you are, how tedious or weak;
- you give proper confidence without running unnecessary risks;
- the balance between your willpower and relaxation is;
- concentrated and focused you are.
The direct experiences and new views can be put into practice immediately. You will find out where the problems are and how to correct them. If you acknowledge and accept this experience, it will automatically start a process that will better integrate your thinking, feeling end actions. You may directly practice this by asking the horse again. *
It is not necessary to have any knowledge of or affinity with horses. However, a learning attitude and the wish to develop your own style of leadership is a must.
The horse as a mirror for development of personal effective leadership...
In the workshop the central idea is that horses are a mirror of our behavior and the effects of it. In the interaction with horses you will find yourself dealing with communication, taking the lead, setting limits, fear and enthusiasm. If you really have the courage to look into the mirror, you will get the opportunity to become clearer and more consequent in thinking, feeling and actions. *
We offer training sessions with a minimum of 2 parts of a day. Training sessions of more than 1 day in The Netherlands, Portugal and Ireland are fully organized by us from the airport of departure.