| At one time or other, every leader/employer has | | | | words, understand and deal with the reason for |
| had to deal with a difficult employee. It can be a | | | | the horse's action; it's easier to change. If you ride |
| discouraging, frustrating and energy-draining | | | | the thought you will always be one step ahead of |
| experience. However, I recently came across | | | | your horse. |
| some "horse sense" that offers a unique and | | | | 3. Always have high expectations. If your |
| positive perspective on improving these challenging | | | | expectations are high you will frame your |
| relationships. | | | | requests differently. |
| My difficult employee is a large good-looking black | | | | 4. Ask your horse to bend his body (and mind) by |
| and white paint horse named Bob. Still young, Bob | | | | asking him to bring his head around. Start with |
| has the potential to be a great riding horse. He is | | | | small requests. Watch for the moment when you |
| intelligent and extremely confident. That | | | | can ask for more. |
| confidence however comes with a lot of attitude. | | | | 5. Reward the slightest effort. |
| He challenges my leadership capabilities every day. | | | | 6. When you feel the energy coming back to you |
| Bob challenges my role as leader in subtle ways. | | | | through the reins (your horse is 'giving' to you) let |
| He's sneaky. (I'm reluctant to ascribe human traits | | | | go and give back. |
| to a horse, but there's no other way to describe | | | | I was somewhat overwhelmed by the idea of |
| it). He will casually walk away as I am getting on | | | | having to remember and apply all these principles, |
| him. He will bump me with his nose as I pass by in | | | | especially while riding an uncooperative horse. |
| front of him. He has tried to spin me off, brush | | | | I expected to put in a lot of time and effort |
| me off and, the other day, he tried to drop to his | | | | before seeing any significant change in Bob. |
| knees to roll me off. We constantly argue about | | | | Instead, things quickly fell into place as I took the |
| which one of us should be setting the pace during | | | | time to "ride the thought" and really understand |
| our rides. When I ask him to trot, he flings his | | | | Bob's perspective. |
| head in the air and charges forward. He has two | | | | I began making small, polite requests that he just |
| speeds - too fast and too slow. | | | | bring his nose around. I rewarded the smallest |
| In the corporate world, difficult employees are | | | | effort by instantly releasing pressure. I gradually |
| often called into the office and given "the talk" In | | | | asked for more but only when I felt he was |
| the horse world, many people carry a crop and | | | | ready. In return, Bob began to soften and bend |
| will strike their horse when it misbehaves. It | | | | more easily not only physically but emotionally. |
| seems to me that both these solutions are | | | | Twenty minutes into our first session I was riding |
| reactive and ineffective. At best they may solicit | | | | a horse that was soft, relaxed and responsive. |
| grudging cooperation. What I wanted in Bob was a | | | | Once I stopped reactively disciplining Bob and |
| willing and engaged partner. | | | | began to proactively shape and reinforce positive |
| While searching for a solution to our relationship | | | | behaviours, working together became a more |
| issues I came across several articles written by a | | | | positive and enjoyable experience for both of us. |
| well-known horse trainer. His training philosophy | | | | Bob is still adamant about expressing his own |
| seemed both pro-active and creative. I | | | | opinion at times but I now look at each |
| committed myself to applying the following | | | | 'conversation' as an opportunity to build a better |
| principles consistently in my training sessions with | | | | relationship. |
| Bob: | | | | I can't wait to apply my newly acquired horse |
| 1. Don't discipline - replace the behaviour | | | | sense to my human employees as well! |
| 2. "Ride the thought" and not the action. In other | | | | |