Spring arrives suddenly to Alberta.
The Chinook arch heralding the arrival of warmer weather as the west winds blow in over the mountains.
The corresponding change in temperature literally transforms the landscape from drifts of snow to rivers of water and from winter white to brown, black and earthy tones.
We occasionally discover a similar life altering moment.
A moment that challenges our beliefs, and transforms our perspective on how we view ourselves or the world around us.
A challenge that requires commitment - the decision to change.
Peter made such a decision after participating in one of our recent sessions.
While many of our activities have participants working one-on-one with the horses, The Big Picture provides the opportunity to observe herd dynamics from the classroom, which over looks the arena.
Heifetz and Laurie introduced "getting on the balcony" as a key requirement for adaptive change so leaders can view patterns, identify a context for change or create one.
In the environment of our programs, this activity is designed to help people to be aware of what could be going on when they are in the thick of the action.
In The Big Picture the horses demonstrate what happens when we aren't mindful of our actions and unknowingly send the wrong messages through our energy and actions.
Reactive by nature, Peter hadn't previously stopped to consider how his frustration or sense of urgency might affect his team.
As Peter watched the horses, he saw the actions of the horses change as they reflected the intention of the human.
While the horses were a dramatic in comparison to what he may experience in the workplace he recognized the impact is obviously similar.
A personal transformation requires a conscious effort to maintain a new behaviour.
Peter now stops to reflect on his actions after a particular frustrating discussion or with news of a system or client issue, before heading out to seek a solution.
Peter believes that single activity transformed how he saw himself.
Sometimes a moment is all it takes for a transformation that can last a lifetime.
"The Work of Leadership" Harvard Business Review - December 2001