Horses vs. Asses

This is my 100th post. I also recently completed my 100th executive coaching engagement. As I reflect on both milestones, I am tempted to take a victory lap. But in rereading my previous posts and remembering the hours spent with my clients, it became obvious to me that this was never about me or the skills I employ. Instead, it was all about how others chose to respond to feedback, either stubbornly or submissively. This principle was reinforced again this morning while trying to break a horse of a bad habit.

Last week, we took one of our best new horses on a pack trip, but we had a devil of a time getting him to load into a trailer. This morning, we decided to change that. In the video, you can see me giving firm, consistent feedback. We thought this would take all morning, but he is remarkably teachable, and we were amazed by how quickly he changed his behavior.

I wish I could take credit for the horses I’ve trained or the leaders I’ve coached, but in truth, the key variable is not the quality of the coach but the humility of the learner. The saying is “stubborn as a mule,” not “stubborn as a horse.” That’s why Far Away Ranch has 14 horses and no asses. The same can be said of the 100 exceptional executives I’ve been privileged to coach over the past seven years.