Notice anything odd about this photo of the New York City skyline? If you’re familiar with the shape of the iconic Empire State Building (just left of center) you may notice it looks slightly bloated in this photo. Why? From this perspective, the shorter, fatter New York Times Building is positioned directly in front of it – obstructing all but…
My watch stopped this past January and after two new batteries and several failed attempts at the repair shop I took it as a sign… a sign to accept the Universe’s message to be more present in my work this year. Because in fact, there’s no other way to be when working with horses. Time is a human construct. A…
Forgiveness… why is it so elusive to many of us? I believe our traditional definition of this word – in part – is one reason we have such difficulty with the concept. To forgive, according to dictionary definitions, involves some form of the following: “to give up resentment against or stop wanting to punish (someone) for an offense or fault”….
Last week a friend of mine shared his deeply personal feelings about a family member. In the moment, I recognized the opportunity to give a rare gift that I myself had recently been given: The gift of pure presence and silence – in human form. Just as my friend did for me, I put my ‘listening hat’ on and kept it there….
Have you ever been uncomfortable around someone at the office without knowing exactly why? At times – especially at work – people who are struggling with something may try to hide their true feelings. This incongruence can appear to others as though the person is wearing a mask. Many of us will wonder if the issue has something to do…
Whether you love it or dread it, networking can mean the difference between connecting with a potential new client, or… not. There are certain things we can do to engage with others successfully at networking events – such as offering a firm handshake (NOT a dead fish!), making eye contact, and listening more than we talk. But perhaps even more…
What is it about horses? How did they earn enough credibility to teach humans about leadership? Horses can see things you can’t see… By their very [instinctive] nature, horses are masters of social intelligence and models of emotional agility. As animals possessing extremely large and sensitive guts – and hearts for that matter – they exhibit a remarkable talent for receiving…
While sparring at the boxing gym yesterday, my partner said – as she came in for a left hook – “there’s no such thing as personal space in boxing”! This got me thinking about one of the most important and foundational exercises we do in leadership training; one that horses are uniquely positioned to teach us: setting boundaries. The story…