| How many times have you hired a new | | | | full-out gallop across the pasture with me holding |
| employee, showed them their desk, the | | | | on! What went wrong? |
| bathroom, the lunchroom, where to find the | | | | As her leader, I was not doing my job. I needed |
| coffee and supplies, and then left them on their | | | | to give her some guidelines, or guides to bump up |
| own to figure things out? Or assigned someone | | | | against, until she learned her job and gain |
| to a task or project they've never done before | | | | confidence in her job. She needed to know her |
| or introduced a new work process they've never | | | | only job was to focus straight ahead and walk |
| seen and just walked away thinking, "They can | | | | calmly forward along the fence line. And I needed |
| read the procedure" or "They're good at other | | | | to gently guide her with the reins, telling her when |
| things, this project will be a piece of cake for | | | | she was doing a great job and when she needed |
| them"., or worse yet, not think anything of it and | | | | to focus forward. |
| just walk away? | | | | When she learned her job and became more |
| Effective leaders provide guides for their | | | | confident and comfortable, I reinforced the lesson |
| employees to bump up against. I've known this | | | | by giving her more rein and a bit more freedom |
| lesson for most of my life, but I manage to | | | | to move around. I praised her too. When she got |
| forget it from time to time when dealing with | | | | off track, I tightened up the reins and provided |
| people who are new to a job or a task. I recently | | | | the guides again. As she became more and more |
| re-learned the lesson when working with my | | | | comfortable, she accepted additional responsibilities |
| horse, Jazz. | | | | and challenges with ease. |
| When I gave Jazz (my female horse; mare to | | | | Think about this story: How might this lesson with |
| horse people) a new job and left her to her own | | | | a horse provide some guidance and direction for |
| devices, she was full of anxiety and fear. She | | | | leading your people? |
| didn't know what to do, how to do it, and was | | | | When you give an employee a new project, job |
| worried about everything around her. As I saw it, | | | | or responsibility, don't leave them to flounder on |
| her job was simple - walk calmly and quietly | | | | their own. Provide strong leadership; give them |
| around the pasture fence without speeding up or | | | | guides to bump up against while they are learning. |
| throwing me off. Simple enough, right? Wrong. | | | | Give them support and encouragement along the |
| Jazz was riddled with fear. "What predators are | | | | way, praise them when they make progress. |
| lurking in the woods?" "Oh my, there's a noise | | | | When they feel more comfortable and |
| that I haven't heard before!" "Is that a cat or a | | | | performance improves, you can loosen the guides |
| deer watching me? Whatever it is, I don't like it!" | | | | and allow them to explore ways to develop |
| These are the thoughts I imagine ran through her | | | | better and more efficient means of completing |
| head as she walked the pasture, moving her head | | | | their responsibilities. |
| from side to side, worrying about every little thing | | | | A strong leader knows when to teach, guide, |
| around her, getting more nervous with each step. | | | | praise and get out of the way! Provide enough of |
| Jazz did not know her job or how to do it, which | | | | each when and where needed. Then get out of |
| turned her into a 900-pound bundle of nervous | | | | their way. Watch them soar to new heights, |
| energy. She spooked at the slightest noise or | | | | finding new ways of doing things while potentially |
| movement. Even the slightest touch of my leg on | | | | saving the company money, increasing |
| her sent her into a frenzy. Being a fight-or-flight | | | | productivity and morale! |
| animal, she did what came naturally. She fled at a | | | | |