Leading with Trust: Leadership Lessons from Knobby
By Heidi Sadecky, PCC – Executive Coach & Director, Townsend Leadership Program
Leading with Trust: Leadership Lessons from Knobby
Have you ever had to persuade your team to take on a daunting task, one they'd rather skip? Do you find yourself trying to force them out of their comfort zone, or that you have to constantly reassure them to make progress?
I face this challenge often with Knobby, a horse I volunteer to work with each week. One of our exercises in trust is that I encourage him to walk backward over a large pipe. This is typical in horse training, but it’s a significant goal for an old horse that is also blind.
Naturally, he'd prefer to avoid this exercise altogether, and we don't do this every week. When we do, Knobby initially goes along, seeking my approval. But soon, he attempts to skip out or distract me.
I've learned to guide him through this process carefully. We start with easy steps, stepping over the pipe forwards. This allows him to succeed without getting frustrated or being pushed beyond his comfort zone.
Walking backward with his back legs is a real stretch for Knobby. It makes him very nervous, so I don’t push him on it until he’s confident using his front legs. I reward him at each small step, and before he knows it, he's confidently using those back legs too.
It's incredibly rewarding for both of us to reach that level.
Just like in the office or at home, new things, changes, and transitions make everyone feel fearful at times.
Through my work with Knobby, I’m reminded that we can set up our work team for success by building trust, taking things one step at a time, and celebrating their achievements along the way.
I encourage you to try leading with trust. Your team's success is your success, and YOUR LEADERSHIP MATTERS.
If you’d like to talk about issues like this each month with your own personal team of peers, you may enjoy joining the next Townsend Leadership Program group that happens just south of Pittsburgh, PA. Members travel from several states to meet once a month for a full day, where we dive into leadership strategies and work through struggles.
Learn about the next group here: TLP Groups Pittsburgh.
Heidi Sadecky is a trusted executive coach who partners with leaders to unlock their full potential. Her mission is to help leaders understand their unique behaviors and decision-making patterns, empowering them to avoid costly mistakes and lead with confidence, authenticity, and emotional intelligence. Heidi holds a master’s degree in Organizational Leadership and multiple high-level certifications, including Emotional Intelligence (EQi and EQ360). Learn about workplace training programs here.