One Essential Leadership qualities

If you Google the phrase "what is leadership" you get one hundred and sixteen million hits. Could there be this many answers to what might seem like a simple question? As always, when faced with too much information I escape from my office and head out to my flock, to see if I can get a clearer picture.

In a pack there is a hierarchy of leadership very well defined. There is of course a leader at the top. Every horse in the herd is also responsible for the leadership of the horse next to bottom. This is a lot of business leadership on an ongoing basis every day. So what are the criteria for leadership in the equine world?

I have two farms, one male (castrated) and female (females), so I could watch the activity of leadership in two very different groups. It 's always fun to ask visitors to choose their leaders in each of our farms. No one has successfully identified a bunch of my clothes.

People tend to think that in the animal world (and often in the human world as well) that it is survival of the fittest - the biggest rise and harder to top. Certainly in my herd of geldings Nubee, the leader, is a big boy. But is not the greatest horse of the group. In Suzy's rearing horse is half the size of most of the horses that governs. So, of course, big and strong leadership are not prerequisites.

When we think of herd dominance often imagine stallions on their hind legs to fight each other. It seems very physical and very violent. Horses do not exert a dominant position by moving around with the other body language. You can sometimes get quite physical and physicality can be quite dramatic for those who are not familiar with horses. But my two leaders rarely engage in these physical games and in fact for most observers Nubee and Suzy give the impression of being more passive members in the herd. Both are able to put the other horses in their place with nothing more than a glance.

Both my horses are herd animals very intelligent, but then so are many others. At the bottom of each herd are snowman and sugar - two of the most intelligent horse I've ever worked with. They will never be the leaders of the herds, but they know they feel comfortable participating in their needs for survival.

Leadership in a herd is not the result of winning a popularity contest. My other horses, especially geldings, often interact and play with the other horse, but the two leaders always steer away from such activities. Being the leader of the pack actually seems like a lonely position.

I have read many times that the leaders in a pack is usually a mixture of old horse. This would lead us to conclude that a horse won his way to the top with age and life experience. Suzie was only 6 years old when he took his cattle in less than 20 minutes on her first day. The advent of new training and leader geldings. Bob, has just turned six years.

My husband and I spent a lot of time watching Bob as he matured into the herd. He and my horse Swish other young, grew up together. While Swish is very happy bouncing near the bottom of the pack to play with his friends Bob has always kept separate from those activities. The horse only he spends much time with you Nubee. It 'obvious that Bob has moved up to the second place. If something were to happen to Bob Nubee would be a natural step in the role of pack leader. What is not obvious is how Bob got to this position in the hierarchy. How Nubee his actions were never overtly dominant or aggressive.

So, what defines Nubee, Suzie and Bob as a leader in the herd?

I believe that leadership begins with an innate drive or belief that is so strong that not being the leader is unthinkable. I have never seen or even Suzy Nubee or Bob for that matter seems to hesitate or to guess themselves about their role in the herd. They have complete trust and confidence in their ability to do the work, and willingness to step up to the plate and take responsibility for getting the job done. Through body language, intent, or the presence - whatever you call it - have been able to communicate this intention to the rest of the pack

Within each human group or organization there is always a hierarchy of leadership, just as there is a horse farm. We all need to have some ability to self-leadership to make us successful in life. At some point it will be inevitable that we find ourselves in the position of having to drive someone else. But not all of us have the desire, intent or the unshakable conviction that we are meant to be 'the' leader. This mood is reserved for the few who actually get up .......