The importance of placing the right talent in the right role.
Jim Collins (Good to Great, HarperCollins, 2001) talks about having the “right people on the bus” and conversely, the “wrong people off of the bus.” Some people refer to “horses in the barn” and having a few “strong horses” when they talk about the human talent on their teams.
I grew up with horses being a part of our family. My dad was a Mounted Police volunteer in the ‘60’s-70’s in the rural town of Malibu, California. I had a short stint as a rider, competing in Hunter/Jumper categories. We had a few different breeds of horses and used them for various roles.
Think of all the different sizes, shapes, coat thicknesses, and abilities of horses. There are biological and geographical reasons for every breed. Thoroughbreds are considered a hot-blooded horse, known for their agility, speed and spirit. They are great racers, let them RUN. Clydesdales are workhorses and war horses that have been used to pull and plow. They are very strong and sturdy. The Mustang is often called “The Symbol of the American West” and are known for their rugged athleticism and qualities of endurance. The Friesian horse is a multi-purpose breed; they were used by armored knights in the 15th and 16th century as the breed had the strength to carry great weight into battle and still maneuver quickly. They also made for great carriage horses and riding school horses.
There are rare specialty breeds such as the Lipizzaner, used for spectacular horse dancing and the Andalusian breed for jumping. The pony breeds are great “trainers” for young people to gain experience on. There are miniature horses who look like and act like a horse, but are just for decoration…and they sure are cute.
People ARE like horses. Each of us has a unique set of talents and traits that make us perfect for a specialized role. We can race or pull a plow or jump over a steeple. Rare is the person who could do all of these or want to do all of these. Finding the right person for a particular job is akin to selecting the right breed of horse for the job that needs to get done.
Be smart in picking a horse, saddle up, and enjoy the ride.