From Canter to Closure

As a leader in organisational growth, I've always believed in the power of

unconventional inspiration. From the boardroom to the barn, lessons learned in

unexpected places often hold the keys to unlocking new perspectives and driving

success.

About a year ago, I decided to take up horse riding. Like anything new in life, it was a little intimidating at first, but with a bit of grace and a fair amount of grit, I persevered.

I'd like to share how my newfound passion has shaped my approach to industry

performance, specifically in creating and sustaining momentum.

Watch Your Step

For those who aren’t familiar with all things equine, horses use four main gaits (or

styles of movement):

First is the walk, which basically takes the horse from the manger to the water

trough, not achieving much in terms of ground covered or rewards gained.

Next comes the trot – a little awkward and bouncy if you don’t know what you’re

doing, but it will get you where you need to go.

After trotting comes the canter: the glorious, smooth rhythm of hoofbeats and the exhilarating feeling of freedom as you cover ground with purpose and precision.

Beyond the canter is the gallop, a super-fast pace, but unsustainable in the long run.

Gallops generally end in sweat and exhaustion – often for both the horse and the

rider! It’s also worth noting that accidents are more likely to occur while galloping

because it’s easier to lose control at such high speed.

Cantering – the stride between a trot and a gallop – embodies a perfect balance of speed, flow, and ease.

In many ways, it parallels the journey of business development momentum in the corporate world.

Companies can walk (ticking over just enough to stay functioning), trot (warming up and building muscle), or gallop (racing recklessly ahead, possibly overreaching their capabilities), but the optimal state in which businesses really want to be is the canter.

Steady Strides, Sustainable Success

There are six ways in which the canter provides solid lessons for businesses in

terms of pace, rhythm, and momentum:

1. Positioning

Cantering creates a distinctive rocking motion that can make it challenging for

riders to stay settled in the saddle, especially for beginners. To master the

canter, riders must sit up straight, yet keep their hips and legs loose and allow

their body to follow the horse's motion. This requires tilting, shifting, and

maintaining poise by raising the pelvis slightly whilst keeping the backside in

the saddle. It takes practice and getting used to the horse's rhythm to sit the

canter without trouble.

Likewise in commerce, it sometimes pays to learn to loosen up, rather than

trying to force a particular outcome. Successful companies must be willing to

adjust their strategies and approaches as needed, while remaining committed

to their long-term visions. This means being well positioned to adapt to

changing market conditions and embrace new experiences.

2. Balance

In business strategy, the cantering analogy emphasises the importance of

equilibrium and stability in an organisation’s operations. Running a profitable

business is not a straightforward process, but rather a delicate balance of

various factors that must be carefully managed. As with riding, there are –

forgive me the pun – many moving parts to consider. To achieve long-term

progression in terms of clients and revenue, business leaders must balance

multiple aspects of their operations and adapt to changing circumstances.

3. Intention

Businesses, like horse riders, must know where they are headed, and how to

get there. To signal the horse to canter, a rider shifts their weight from their

pelvis to their seat bones and ensures that their buttocks are resting against

the back curve of the saddle. Businesses need to take action in their own

ways to indicate intention to generate revenue, such as identifying a target

market, setting clear goals, and developing a strategy to achieve those goals.

4. Control

Cantering teaches us the importance of control in every movement. Market

leaders also need to “be in the saddle”: they must actively nurture and sustain

momentum through proactive planning, adaptability, and resilience in the face

of challenges. This requires a strategic approach to resource allocation,

prioritisation, and risk management. By mastering this control, we can steer

our teams towards success while minimising unnecessary turbulence along

the way.

5. Pace: efficiency and effectiveness

A skilled rider can find the perfect rhythm in a canter. Analogously, business

professionals can strike a balance between pace and stability. Maintaining a

consistent, yet manageable, speed is crucial for staying on track towards our

goals. We must avoid the temptation to rush blindly ahead, risking burnout or

losing control. Instead, by embracing the canter's steady progression, we can

ensure a sustainable approach to revenue generation.

By focusing on high-impact activities and leveraging resources wisely, we can

maximise our impact and drive meaningful results. In the fast-paced world of

corporate advancement, efficiency is the key to staying ahead of the

competition.

Maintaining Momentum

Every organisation – like every horse, and every ride – is different. But the

process is almost always the same: we all start with the basic walk, move

through the hard work of the trotting phase, and then, hopefully, gain the skill,

speed, and momentum necessary to canter. We get into the rhythm of the

ride, becoming comfortable with the flow and relishing the ease and joy of the

journey.

You can’t simply launch into a canter without first developing the necessary

dexterity. The tipping point for many businesses – especially startups and

entrepreneurial project models – is reached by building the right processes,

testing systems, and leading teams effectively.

Cantering embodies a sense of urgency and forward motion, tempered by stability and control. Urgency without stability can lead to reckless decision-making, whereas stability without urgency may result in missed opportunities.

By finding the sweet spot between the two, we can propel our organisations forward with confidence and clarity.

Risky Business

Horse riding can be a risky business, but there’s no reason for businesses to take

unnecessary risks in the marketplace – like riding, it’s all about training, timing, and confident execution.

No matter your industry, sometimes we’re in for a wild ride. This is even more

pertinent in today’s uncertain economic climate, which presents challenges that

businesses have never had to confront before. As in horse riding, we must be alive to the risks we may face, and take preventative action:

First, let’s address training. Provide your team the right resources. Give them the

business equivalents of reins and saddles. Make sure they have the necessary

hardware, software, workshops, and courses to ride high in their professional

performance. It costs time and money to kit them out, but it’s a worthy investment.

Second, be mindful of timing. Learn to “move with the horse”. Things don’t always go the way we want or expect them to. Economic crashes, unpredictable politics, and infrastructural incapacities (hello, load-shedding) are challenges we have to face, so it’s crucial to maintain momentum and be able to pivot swiftly.

There are always opportunities, and staying agile and responsive to changing market dynamics means building a brand that will outpace the rest. Where others halt or retreat, those who take brave strides by prospecting, solving problems for clients, and closing deals will keep their momentum flowing and their organisations thriving.

Lastly, build confidence through security. No matter how much we focus on

training and timing, riders know that there is always a chance that we could get

bucked off. Similarly, businesses can be bucked by the economy, environmental

changes, supply chain disruptions, and other unforeseen factors; but we can mitigate against those risks.

Confident execution – both in the arena and in the office – relies on having

contingency plans and insurance policies to safeguard your journey, ensuring you

reach your destination. In short, wear your helmet!

Enjoyment and Engagement

Finally, let's not forget the joy and camaraderie that come with cantering on

horseback. Comparably, in a business environment, we must find fulfilment in our

work and foster a positive and collaborative atmosphere for our teams. Celebrate

successes, cultivate a sense of purpose, and embrace a spirit of teamwork where

momentum flourishes and innovation thrives. Even if you’re not a rider, you can stay canter-confident when it comes to your business development momentum.

With horses and with commerce, as I’ve learned, the motion of canter can be a hard skill to master. But getting it right is the most rewarding feeling there is.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on how this analogy might influence your approach to your business. And if you need assistance developing strategies to bolster your brand, I’d be happy to give you a leg-up!