We’ve all heard the expression ‘you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink’.

🙃 But have you heard this funny take on it: ‘you can lead a human to knowledge but you can’t make him think’ (original source unknown).

Very relevant to the work that we do but also a reminder for anyone wanting to be a better leader: we cannot force those around us to move at our own pace or think the same way as us.

Good leaders need patience.

Horses keenly sense when someone is impatient and respond accordingly – no amount of pulling will make them move faster. When working with horses, we have a bit of a mantra: “act like you have five minutes and it’ll take all day, act like you have all day and it’ll take five minutes.”

Patience, and the calm that it brings, is super important when working with people too. Especially when working with teams. We are all different so team dynamics can be a source of frustration especially with a looming deadline.

For me, my horses remind me to take a break when I’m in a rush. One squishes his big head right into my body so I physically have to stop what I am doing. It always makes me take the moment I need to reset, smile and breathe.

Are you a patient leader? What (or who) can help you relax when you’re feeling impatient?