Leading Adaptively

What is an adaptive challenge? One where our current skills, mindset, behaviours and experience may not be what we need or what will help us reach our goals.  

So, then what is required of leaders?   Curiosity and an observer mind. The ability to noticing what is happening to self/others/the impact of environment. A willingness to experiment with new approaches and ability to learn and adjust/change tactics in the moment.  

This was the challenge for our groups of leaders yesterday at The Wisdom of The Horse program for senior leaders in beautiful Bowral, Southern Highlands, NSW.  

In small groups of three the challenge was to lead a horse, without using a lead rope through an obstacle path. The initial elation of succeeding when the horse walked with them was, for some groups, then disrupted when the horse veered off course or just completely came to a standstill.  Oh dear- what to do then?  How do we get to the finish line?  

Sound familiar?   As we know things do not go to plan and it feels like now more than ever , we all need the skills to reflect, regroup and adapt.

As facilitators we invited the group to pause, regroup and be flexible. To consider the roles that each individual played, did this need to shift?  To look at communication with each other and how this was helping or hindering.  To check in with their emotional responses and manage resistance, frustration, or anxiety using self-regulation techniques.  And to experiment with unfamiliar or uncomfortable strategies in the moment and evaluate impact. 

The horses created an example of an adaptive challenge. Congratulations to all the teams that met the challenge yesterday.  You were so willing and open and wanting to learn, and this served you and your equine learning partners so well, supporting you all to reach the goal without breaking the trust and connection you had built with your horse.

#equineassistedlearning #leadershipdevelopment #thewisdomofthehorse #immersivelearning #experientiallearning #adaptiveleadership