Let the Horses Run

November 27, 2023?

Dear Leaders,?

In the 19th century, horses were among the most valuable assets.? Unlike the stock on the shelf, or the machinery of the nascent industrial age, horses required more than just care and feeding, they needed appreciation to get the most out of them, for the output of those machines emerging on the scene wasn’t described as horsepower by a mere metaphor.? In the modern world where artificial intelligence and robotics might eclipse some people, leaders know that like the horses of yesteryear, real power comes from your people.?

In any organization, the people come in distinctive styles that, like the horses professionally trained and groomed, complement each other and drive your program.? In the same vein, you have to compare and contrast to know what types and talents you have and how to best use them.?

No question about it, the thoroughbreds are built for speed, and when you need it, they deliver, but each requires far more maintenance and training than your average steed. ?They run best when challenged by other thoroughbreds, but they are extremely fragile and when broken, cannot be easily repaired.? The stellar runners on your team need to be allowed to work up to speed but must always be aware they are part of a stable that is more than just them alone.?

More preferable perhaps, is the quarter horse, so named for the ability to cover a quarter mile fast.? Stronger than your thoroughbreds and with greater endurance, they are prized for working the open range with speed, strength, and durability.? This most versatile of employees can be your greatest asset in flexibility of application.??

Heavy lifting requires power, and as the Clydesdale is the horse for the job, so too is the person who can take on the tough tasks and pull through, not just individually, but part as a team.? These people know that on-time delivery is crucial and their steady and sturdy performance makes it happen.? Like anyone, you don’t want to overwork them, and that strength needs to be fed well, so keep plenty of hay and oats on hand.?

Going the distance requires strength and endurance, so look to your draft horses to do the job.? Like the teams and singles pulling the stagecoaches and carriages, they are built for the long haul.? When put together as a team, you still need to watch for individual strengths, for you can’t just randomly hitch them up and send them loose.? You also need to ensure they have adequate rest and care, lest they pull up lame in the middle of a desert.? ??

The mustang, wild and tough, might seem to be a poor fit for your stable, but when trained by the proper horse breaker, they can be one of your greatest assets, for that wild streak doesn’t leave them, and the fearlessness that comes with it can be the difference in facing new challenges, and this will be the person willing to buck the trend.?

As with any group, there is the bad with the good, and this too requires identification and action. You have to be on the lookout for the cull, the one you must cut from the team or the stable, for you can’t break them, they won’t adapt, and the others clearly see it.? If your best efforts are unsuccessful, it’s time to gather them up, separate them from the others, and dispose of them, for much like a useless nag, a bad person is a waste of your time and resources, and while you can’t sell people by the pound for processing into glue or dogfood (even should the thought cross your mind), you send them away, for they may be useful in some other fashion.?

As the stablemaster, leaders need to be keenly aware of the distinct types you have and how to use their talents to the needs of your mission.? As the horse breaker, you need to know what it takes to maximize those talents, know when to hitch them up as a team, and when to let them run free. ?As your mission changes, so do the needs, and the horse you rode in on might not be the fastest needed, or the team that pulls the fire engine is not the best equipped to pull the beer wagon (a crucial task if there ever was one).? Knowing your people and their strengths and talents, and knowing how to groom, care, feed, and use them will get the job done in every situation, and while others are known for their machine mastery, you will be renowned for your horsepower.? ???????

Sincerely,

Tim