MANAGING STRESS
How do you manage stress – both in you and your business?
With 1 in 4 people expected to have a mental health problem in the next 12 months, work-related stress is a big issue.
We have had one of our equine team members off work with stress for the last 15 months. Tiffin became anxious and had to be withdrawn from the work as he was sometimes aggressive and sometimes panicky.
Many people told us that we should let go of a horse who is an overhead and not adding value to the business. However, we believe that when we take a horse on, we have a commitment for its life time. Our horses are not just our employees who depend on us for work; they also depend on us for their welfare, health, food and environment. That’s a big commitment we make and it’s one we take seriously.
15 months ago whilst working with clients, Tiffin panicked and went for Jude. He was anxious and wanted her to get him out of the situation. Since then he has been off work whilst he has been releasing the old trauma of his racing days. He’s gone from being aggressive and us wondering if we should let him go for the sake of our own safety, through him being unconfident and us helping him through it, panicking when people touch him, yet providing healing for those who needed it along the way and recently learning to trust again. Throughout it all, he has wanted to work but was too anxious.
After an unexpected treatment from someone who hadn’t asked either Tiffin’s or our permission, he bit Jude and retreated back to how he was a year ago. We called in a specialist who released some major trauma for him. It involved Tiffin rearing up several times, throwing Jude and her glasses across the stable. Tiffin fought us all the way and it was a pretty horrendous experience for us and him but we are happy to say that he has come out the other side, having released a significant amount of trauma from his past.
For the last two months, we’ve been explaining to clients that he is on a return to work program. We have tried to include him in conversations and observations, without anyone being hands on with him. We’ve gradually brought him into the arena to watch the clients working with other horses, so that he can learn to feel confident again.
On Monday, Tiffin came back into work for the first time in 15 months, allowing clients and us to kneel at his feet, showing us that he is ready to truly trust for perhaps the first time in his life. Afterwards Tiff came up to each one of us in turn and nuzzled our hands and hearts. It has been a long year of patience and challenges yet through it all we’ve believed that he just needs time to heal. Finally Tiffin has learned to trust himself. He felt like a powerful racehorse the day after this photo was taken and since then his energy has been stronger with more softness and gentleness to it.
Tiffin has an incredible healing capacity and often seeks out people with physical and emotional pain. Let’s hope he can do this again without the anxiety of the last 15 months. Whatever happens, we will be there for him, supporting him on his return to work program.
How do you identify stress in your employees before it’s too late? How do you support them as they re-enter the business after a period of time off?
Here is Tiffin (on the right) as he joins Kalle (middle) and Mr Blue (left) for the first time in 15 months. Our special thanks go to the clients who worked with him and helped him feel comfortable enough to make this a very positive experience for him.
The Leadership Whisperers help senior leaders develop embodied leadership skills that have a profound impact in business. Through live events and workshops, Jude and Emma partner with horses who provide non-judgmental feedback, enabling clients to identify their strengths and where they get derailed so they can transform themselves into courageous and hugely influential non-verbal communicators.
Our corporate clients report significant results including resolving conflict, cultural change, improving financial performance, increasing sales and individuals gaining promotions.
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