SECURITY
MANAGEMENT ENCOURAGE HORSING AROUND
It’s not what it seems; security firm Trigion is using equine helpers to develop its modern-day managers, thanks to the insight of
a psychologist with an in-depth knowledge of animal behaviour. Jan-Hein Hemke, Trigion’s Managing Director, explains more.
Developing our workforce is very important to us and we’re always keen to ensure that there’s a mixture of training styles and approaches. No one wants to be stuck in a classroom, and it can sometimes be hard to apply the lessons learnt there, back in the work environment.
A colleague at Trigion in the Netherlands, first introduced the company to the idea of incorporating working with horses as a fun few hours in the personal leadership training, for members of the management team. It was so successful that it has now been incorporated into our ‘Potential Programme’ across the Group.
“HORSES REACT
OPENLY AND WITHOUT CARING WHETHER SOMEONE’S A
MANAGING DIRECTOR WITH 40 YEARS’
EXPERIENCE OR A NEW RECRUIT.”
This programme helps future leaders to translate company objectives into management behaviour and to ensure a focus on customer service excellence – something that is key to our business. We’ve been working with cognitive psychologist, Dr Tenne von Nordheim, for over 10 years to help develop managers and high-potential colleagues in this way. Tenne is able to judge how the horses are reacting to people and feedback accordingly.
50 | TOMORROW’S FM
Working with horses gives people an insight into their management style in an unprejudiced, non-judgemental manner. The horses react openly and without caring whether someone’s a managing director with 40 years’ experience or a new recruit.
The horse training follows a day at an assessment centre where participants identify their strengths and weaknesses. These are then tested, as managers take on a series of exercises including leading horses around obstacles or working without any physical contact. This helps the trainees achieve simple goals and establish respect and trust with the animal.
The exercises show the managers how their workplace behaviour can be perceived by others. Often people do not realise they are coming across as aggressive or overly passive. Working with the horses brings such behaviour to light as the horses react according to the behaviour of the person they work with.
By identifying behaviour traits and actions, participants can start to analyse their own behaviour. They can then develop ideas for change and improvements to the way they work and manage.
Any mammal could be used for the training as they share the same limbic system as humans. This complex arrangement of nerves and networks in the brain drives our instincts and moods. It controls our basic emotions (such as fear and anger). However, horses are the practical and safe option. They are able to be trained to complete the exercises effectively, but maintain their ability to react to the situation.
The automatic responses made by the horses reflect those we, as humans, make. However, the horse is not affected by office hierarchies and will react without the fear of repercussions. If the horse is scared to do something, or put off by a domineering approach, it will clearly show it and not try to modify its behaviour in the way humans might.
Another important factor is that horses don’t remember any past ‘misdemeanours’, so it is quickly possible to see how the participants’ altering behaviour changes the way the horse reacts.
As well as dealing directly with horses, the training allows participants to observe and question colleagues to establish how and why different approaches work; building teamwork skills.
Everything learnt working with the horses can be applied to the working environment. It helps participants and those they work with to reach their true potential, which is good for our business and good for our customers too!
www.trigion.co.uk twitter.com/TomorrowsFM
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