Leadership lessons can come from unexpected sources. Horses, with their millions of years of survival as sustainable communities, have much to teach us about effective leadership, especially in times of uncertainty.

Gayle Lantz speaks with Melba Holliday, with Atlantic Leadership Group, an executive coach who combines her passion for horses with transformational leadership development. Melba shares insights from her unique approach of equine-facilitated leadership, where leaders learn valuable lessons through ground-based interactions with horses.

Melba explains how horses demonstrate a shared leadership model that promotes health, harmony, and unity within their herds. She draws parallels between horse behavior and effective organizational leadership, offering practical takeaways that leaders can apply immediately in their own environments.

This episode covers:

• The diamond model of leadership as demonstrated by horse herds
• Key leadership capabilities that horses exemplify: attention, direction-setting, energy management, and congruence
• How horses build trust and what leaders can learn from this process
• The power of shared leadership and its application in organizational settings
• Practical questions for leaders to navigate uncertainty inspired by horse behavior
• A real-world example of how equine-facilitated learning transformed an executive team
• The importance of energy awareness in leadership and its impact on teams
• How leaders can develop patience and adjust their leadership presence

Melba’s passion for this work shines through as she explains why she believes equine-facilitated leadership can change the world. This episode challenges listeners to reconsider their approach to leadership and team dynamics, inspired by the natural wisdom of horses.

LINKS:

https://atlanticleadershipgroup.com

Previous Episodes:

The No-Complaint Challenge: Transforming Your Leadership Mindset

Keeping the Fire Alive: Sustaining the Momentum in Leadership