Life-changing. That’s the type of professional development experiential learning with
horses + coaching provides.
Leadership development is one of the areas where research on experiential learning vs. passive learning is the clearest and most consistent.
Professional publications such as The Journal of Experiential Education, Leadership Quarterly and Journal of Management Education that study leadership, talent development, and experiential education, a shared pattern emerges:
- Passive learning builds knowledge about leadership.
- Experiential learning builds capacity to lead.
Passive learning (lectures, readings, videos) still has value—but mostly as a supporting layer, not the engine of leadership growth.
As the only business in Iowa offering experiential leadership development, we set out to conduct our own research to study the impact of off-site, guided leadership experiences with horses + coaching.
The research made possible by Wright Service Corp. Lead program participants and with guidance from Carol Heaverlo, Ph.D. concurs with what leading journals have already discovered.
Last month we shared quantitative results of the study. This month, we’re humbled to share the qualitative data supported by quotes, comments, and testimonials from research participants.
You’ll hear from participants about their amazing journey of self-discovery and the actionable steps they took back to their workplaces to help transform their teams.
Qualitative Results
Few of God’s creatures are as noble and soul-stirring as horses. The way we show up physically and emotionally say so much to them. So much that our words can’t even be heard.
As you’ll hear from one Lead Program participant, what’s revealed to us by the horses through hands-on activities can be otherwise difficult to receive from co-workers or other people.
There’s something about the way horses reflect to us what we bring into workplace relationships that calls us into a more accepting space.
Following are two forms of qualitative results from the study:
- A word cloud analyzed participant feedback, highlighting the words used most often to describe the impact of their professional development experience + coaching. The larger the word, the more frequently it was used by participants.
- Quotes, comments and testimonials from participants describe how they applied what they learned, including a quote from one of the Lead program’s executive sponsors.
It was such a life-changing experience. Working with the horses at fullCIRCLE revealed something in myself that I would probably not accept from people. Now that I’m back in my workplace, and because of my experience at fullCIRCLE I’m focusing on that human level of connection by being more present in conversations and meetings.
I’m tearing down the walls of self-protection by remembering that to be without vulnerability is to be without leadership. I’m allowing myself the grace to fail and becoming the person I want to be.
Betsy Long, safety project manager
Wright Tree Service
The horses. . . without speaking a word, spoke so loudly. They put everybody – with our diverse skill sets from seven sister companies – on the same level of discomfort and vulnerability.
The activities with the horses apply to leadership principles while you’re there and then help you see how those principles apply to your work situation. They rip off mental band aids that keep you from becoming a great leader and you learn how to dive in alongside those you serve.
Nearly a year later, I see more clearly how this experience offers a chance for people to open their own (mind) vault. You leave more equipped to check yourself and creatively solve whatever situation shows up in your workspace with those you’re leading.
Nate Demby, division 15 manager
Employee Owner of the Year 2023
Wright Tree Service
Several of our leaders have plans to return with their own team because of the profound impact the fullCIRCLE experience has on them and the value they see in this type of approach. Individuals were able to see leadership in a new light.
Rare is the experience that can so strongly influence such a diverse group of people: Courage in the face of fear, deep personal introspection, reflection, overwhelming joy, personal peace and demonstrated love.
Adam Larson, regional manager
Wright Tree Service
What does this mean for you?
There is research-based evidence that when you challenge your team to recognize and re-imagine the role of leadership in an immersive experience + coaching you build strong, more effective leadership teams that deliver long-term, tangible results for your organization.
You have a trusted partner with an ideal blend of business experience, training and coaching that empowers you to run a thriving professional development program.
About the Research
Research made possible in cooperation with Wright Service Corp. Lead Program participants and guidance from Carol Heaverlo, Ph.D., helped provide insight regarding the effectiveness of leadership development encompassing experiential learning: guided experiences with horses + coaching.
The data demonstrated the clear and powerful value to infusing kinesthetic (tactile) learning that involves physical activity and multisensory learning that integrates the five senses (how humans understand and perceive the world).
- The study involved 25 Lead program participants at Wright Service Corp.
- National and international participants travelled to fullCIRCLE in April and November 2023.
- Following the April experience, a five-question Qualtrics survey was distributed via email.
- From April to November individual coaching was conducted with participants via phone or Zoom.
- In November, a focus group with all 25 participants was conducted on-site immediately following the team’s second experience at fullCIRCLE.
Are you a growth-minded leader willing to consider this powerful learning style for your leadership team?
Let’s start a conversation about the proven, research-based strategy of off-site, ground-based, guided leadership experiences with horses + coaching.