Becoming Our Best
“A HORSE CALLED TUFFY”
Recently we returned to the Triangle X Ranch in Wyoming for another week of riding 4-5 hours a day in the incredible scenery of the Grand Tetons. Based on last year’s experience, it seemed I could handle a new horse, an “upgrade” if you will. So they assigned Tuffy to me.
A beautiful creature, Tuffy is sorrel in color with a dun streak down his back. Ready to lope at the mere sound of the word, no more encouragement required. But he had a few bad habits, as we all do: following too close to the horse ahead and wanting to stop and munch the prairie grass all the time (horses are trained to eat when the rider gets down from the saddle onto the ground, and not at other times).
Eventually we came to a workable understanding about what we were doing together and the experience was quite enjoyable. So what might we learn from my experience with Tuffy?
• Each of us has bad habits and we need other team members to work and help us grow to the next level.
• Willingness to both work and play hard is a great asset.
• Patience and persistence on the leader’s part will pay off.
• Expect team members to have different ideas about things. That’s where synergy comes into play.
People will listen to us and follow our lead, based less on what we say than on what we do and how it is done. Try always to work with your team members from an inner place of care and concern for them, balanced with the need to achieve the team’s mission. This balancing act takes time and discipline to learn and is well worth the effort.
Author: Bruce Johnsen Management Consultant:
824 Munras Ave Suite G
Monterey, CA 93940
831-373-5969
bruce@brucejohnsen.com
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