Force-Free Dog Training – What Can It Teach Us About Leading Through Change? (No, Really!)
I have two dogs, Maya, a 13-year-old German Shepherd/Hound mix, and Keyes, a 6-year-old Jack Russell/Chihuahua mix who will be making the transition to #RVlife with my husband and I in October.
It’s a big change for all involved, and we can’t sit them down and explain what’s going on. SO, I have been using “force-free dog training” to prepare them for what’s ahead - and it’s been a challenge
In struggling through learning these new skills, I had to snicker when I heard the dog training instructor say a lot of things that sounded strangely similar to things that I say to my executive clients to help them lead their people through constant change.
1. Meet their basic needs first. Dogs and people are similar in that they don’t learn well if they are concerned about their basic needs for shelter, food, and safety. Fear clouds the mind. Obviously, you can’t personally make sure everyone has all their needs met, but ensuring your team is being paid fairly and expressing genuine interest in their lives and growth (without being nosy or judgmental) goes a long way in removing fear.
2. Communicating despite barriers. With dogs, it is the owner’s responsibility to learn to read body language and teach basic commands to their dog. Even if you can speak the same language as the younger generations, the ever-changing slang, new technology, and pop culture references can feel like a language barrier. As a leader, it is up to you to learn what style of communication works best, not only to convey your message clearly, but to understand your team.
3. Finding THEIR motivation. Dogs and people are similar in that something usually motivates them to work and learn. It may take some creativity to find what motivates your team, but working to find it will facilitate active engagement.
4. Mistakes happen. As with anything new, there’s an expected learning curve. In dog training, this means almost constant repetition of command/reward. As a leader building a competent team however, this means anticipating that everyone will make mistakes, even you. Your job, in either case, is to stay calm and patient. Depending on the severity of the mistake, you can either take control of the situation or, better yet, walk your team through the steps of figuring out a solution and correcting the mistake themselves.
5. Building trust and confidence. Dogs, like people, are capable of learning complex behaviors and skills, but there’s always a first step. Even service dogs must start by learning “sit”. Defining the end goal is important, but it can also be overwhelming. Breaking it down into smaller, but still challenging, tasks. This can help build your team’s confidence and trust in their abilities, as well as help build your confidence and trust in them.
Obviously, I’m not telling you to treat people as you would dogs (or dogs as you would people). The moral of this story, however, is to seek continual learning in every aspect of your life. As a leader, your team will thank you for it!
