The old idea of Monkey See, Monkey Do doesn’t just apply to monkeys. It applies to all of us as leaders, co-workers, friends and family.
My boy Maverick taught me that lesson yet again this weekend. Maverick is a wild child – a true feral wild horse. So all of this domesticated living is pretty different for him. But he’s a quick learner, and smart. You have to be smart to survive in the wild.
This week I had the idea to put Mav in with Shadow, my gelding Morgan. They played in the arena together and had a blast, so I moved Pearl to another slot and let Mav and Shadow have the big paddock.
I was a bit worried that first night – you never know what two horses, especially those gelded later in life like both my boys, are going to do when you’re not around. I knew neither would kill each other, but I didn’t know if they’d fight or bond in the dark of night with no one to watch.
Here’s what I found the next morning. Don’t they look like bookends – Me and MiniMe!
But the mirroring goes far beyond this little nap in the sun.
Yesterday I went into the paddock and there was Shadow to greet me at the gate as always. I rubbed his nose and turned to find Mav behind me, waiting for his turn. That was the first time he’s let me rub him without backing away a bit. He watched Shadow and learned it was an okay thing.
I put a halter on Shadow and started to brush him while Mav looked on. I turned and brushed Mav standing free in the paddock – he didn’t move and let me brush him all over. Then he followed me over and I got his halter and put it on without a flinch.
I put a saddle pad and saddle on Shadow. Mav watched on, intent on what was happening. I turned to do the same with Mav – who has yet to allow a saddle without a near heart attack. He stood quietly and let me saddle him – without my even holding his lead rope. WOW
Mav is a smart dude. He watched Shadow’s response, and he mirrored it. And he learned new lessons so easily all because of watching Shadow.
That made me think about all of us – and how many people are watching, and learning from our every action.
No matter who we are or what we do, we are role models for someone. If we’re leaders, we have the eyes of our entire organization on us. If we’re workers, all of our co-workers are watching us. If we’re parents we have our kids, if partners we have our mates.
We all teach others with our own actions.
What are you teaching?