“No hour of life is wasted that is spent in the saddle.”
– Winston Churchill, My Early Life: A Roving Commission (1930)
Are you striving or flowing in your work? Are you feeling burned out or energized? These questions came to mind as I was reflecting on a picture that a friend had painted of a horse with a mountain scene in the background. The horse is painted as though he is looking directly at you. My friend said she painted it this way so that the horse is beckoning others to go to the mountains with him.
This painting prompted me to recall some of my experiences in Banff National Park this past summer and spoke to me about leadership. During my time there, I had two opportunities to take a trail up a mountain for 6 to 7 miles. One of these trails was done by hiking on my own two feet and the other by being carried by horseback riding. On both trails, I made it to my destination, but my experience getting there was totally different.
In leadership, we can produce results, but how we get there can be totally different. One way relies only on self for full control. The other way relies on connecting with others and requires surrender. Both ways lead to outcomes; however, the impact on energy, pace and vision with strategy will not be the same experience.
Energy –
When I go hiking, I rely on my own strength and perseverance to get to the destination. My muscles carry my weight and backpack. My energy is taxed more. I need to take breaks to recoup.
When I ride a horse, I also rely on the horse’s strength. I still must expend energy, but my muscles work tightening and flowing with the horse. Our energy combines to bring output. I don’t need to take as many breaks. Our strength and perseverance work together to get to the target we are working towards on the trail.
Leadership can be similar. Are you feeling like your energy is being taxed? Take some time to reflect. Are you relying too much on yourself? Are you trying to hold onto control too much? Are there ways you can be relying on others more, whether your team, your peers, or leaders above you? What is your energy level trying to tell you? Are there places where you need to be more transparent to voice what is going on with your energy?
Pace –
With hiking, I rely on my own pace. Especially when hiking elevation gains, my pace will slow as my breathing becomes more labored. Also, when hiking down, I must be careful that my pace does not become too fast due to gravity and causing a fall. On this particular hike in Banff, the sole on my left hiking boot fell off with a mile still left in the hike. This also led to an uneven pace as I had to finish the hike.
With horseback riding, the horse can set the pace with my influence. I can direct the horse with different gaits, but even the pace of those gaits can be unique to the horse. We work together and each horse is individualistic. I do find that horses have a much steadier pace with elevation gains than I do, whether up or down. They can get us to the destination on the hike quicker. Also, if I hit an obstacle (like losing the sole of my boot), they can help me in the journey.
Are you striving or flowing in your leadership? Is your pace wearing you out? Are you asking for feedback from others around you about pace? Where do you need to influence the pace? Are you setting priorities and communicating those priorities?
Vision and Strategy –
When walking on a mountain trail, I spend a lot of time looking down. I am watching to make sure my footing is secure with an uneven path with rocks, boulders, tree roots or a low-lying animal being spooked and darting across the path. Because of looking down a lot, I am not always fully seeing ahead or being aware of the big picture of my surroundings. My view tends to be more narrowed.
On a horse, I sit much higher up. I can see farther ahead, take my surroundings in more, and give clearer direction to the horse. However, I also must trust the horse with his choice of steps. This includes even on narrow paths on the side of the mountain. This can bring up fear but requires a surrender to trust.
What is your role as a leader? Are you spending time to see the big picture for your team to provide vision and strategy? Or are you getting too involved in details or the day-to-day that is to be owned by others? What is causing fear for you that results in you trying to control? Where do you need to trust more? What does it look like for you to surrender control?
As I reflected on my two mountain experiences in Banff, the word “carried” came to mind. In leadership, there can be times when I need to hike on my own. But those times are limited. There is a richness of energy and empowerment that comes when we surrender to being carried with others. I hope the analogy and questions, prompted you in your own reflection for self-leadership and being your best leader with others. Which analogy or question prompted you the most and what will you do next as a result?