Lander is a born Leader

Lander is the leader of Rommersum. He is the oldest horse that bears the beautiful surname ' Van 't Rommersum'  , but that is not the reason. He is also not the boss because he is big and strong, an adult horse in the prime of his life. He is the dominant stallion because of his character. He radiates authority and charisma. Lander is unperturbed, controlled, present and calm. No energy is wasted on pointless movement. He doesn't act busy, he IS. When Lander approaches, the other animals give way. In horse language, that is testimony of respect. And he deserves that too. 

In his natural role as male leader, he is responsible for the safety of the herd. He is always alert and hears and sees everything. He often stands alone, somewhat at a distance. People call that the metaposition. When the other horses argue, Lander stops the game. Just by his presence. He also does not have to fight with other stallions to maintain his position. He gets this automatically due to his high stress resistance… his zen level.

In the human environment, respect is of course a more complex issue. Everyone deserves it, whether you have 20 years or 2 months of service. You treat each other as your equal, regardless of your position in the workplace or in the family. But respect has a very nice quality: by showing others your (sincere!) respect, you will automatically get respect in return. You cannot demand or enforce respect, you earn it by being respectful yourself as a leader. But a natural leader also knows that it is his/her responsibility to set the tone for the company culture. So: They will live long, the companies where respect is paramount!  

Live according to your nature

Due to circumstances, Lander was left alone in the meadow for several months. At first glance everything seemed ok, but we noticed a change. He kept his head down, his eyes sad and his curiosity slowly disappearing. He turned inward and lost his pride. Or to put it in human language: he became depressed. Why that happened? Because just like everyone else, the natural leader must also be able to be himself. He must be able and allowed to bear his responsibility. It is his nature and not just a role he takes. Lander wants to care for other horses as his nature dictates. He deserves their respect but also needs it to feel good. So: we put him back with other horses and saw Lander quickly blossom again. He was strengthened in his natural role and regained his dignity. He could be himself again.

Leading a team is not for everyone, but how inspiring it is when a leader consciously makes his/her team stronger. Because the characteristics of the 'natural' leader are clear: good leaders are self-aware, communicate effectively but always respectfully, delegate work, encourage personal development and motivate the group to give the best of themselves. Because that is the secret of a great leader: making others stronger. When everyone gains the confidence to fully use his/her strength, the team gains superpowers. All energy is then used for the team objectives and no more energy is lost on frustration. A good leader not only develops himself, but also takes time to help others grow. And he/she does this by using empathetic qualities: there is always room for other opinions and feelings, which are welcome. And so the natural leader navigates the team through conflicts or stressful situations.

Respect and Trust

Lander is the horse we trust the most. We do this because of his leadership qualities. The leader of horses is a Zen master. He does not allow himself to be rushed by stressful people and does not become nervous about anxious coaches. He does not adopt negative emotions but maintains his composure. The herd leader is not necessarily the most dominant horse in the herd. Animals that are too dominant are not good company for subordinate horses. They are often concerned with self-interest, driving others away from something they want to keep for themselves. So not someone to follow. Good leadership in a herd is not enforced by force, nor does it happen overnight. It is growing steadily. Leading horses are charismatic and excel in respect and trust.

This is no different with people: respect and trust go hand in hand. Not the false form of respect that we also call dominance or obedience. Good leaders are constantly looking for ways to move their teams and organizations forward. They listen to all ideas, whether they agree with them or not. They allow teams to implement their ideas and learn from their mistakes. They know that thinking strategically together is important for both the leader and the team. Real listening is sometimes overlooked, yet it is one of the most important parts of good leadership. In busy times or under the influence of stress, there is always an excuse not to listen. Finding the right balance between inspiring speaking and inspiring by listening is the difference between a good and a great leader. Every natural leader has a sustainable vision, feels passion and cares about others.

But no one is perfect. Our Lander only has one trauma in his backpack: water. He is not afraid of the rain and walks through all the puddles in the meadow. But he really doesn't like what people do with water and horses and he makes that very clear. 

🤎 🌞 🤎
Els, Lander's great friend

👉🏽  Rommersum organizes workshops on  Leadership, Authenticity and Energy Management for companies and individuals.
More information at:  https://rommersum.be/stille-taal-workshop