One of the most important contributors to success in personal and business life is the ability to communicate effectively. Communication is about delivering a message to another and we assume that the recipient has a perfect understanding of all the nuances and meanings of our messages. However, often meaning get lost in translation; re-coded and re-interpreted.An area of interest currently is the study of emotional intelligence or EQ as a vital element of any leader. One of the key strands of EQ is the ability to tune into other’s people’s emotional state and with that understand how to communicate with them.

This skill is a rare one indeed battling with the natural ego; ourselves at the centre of our concern. However, the skill is brilliantly illustrated with the practice of Horse Whispering.

Monty Roberts is often called, ‘The Man who talks to horses’. His father broke horses in the traditional way through discipline and often force. Monty practices an entirely different approach where he tunes in to the communication signals of the horse and communicates in the same language. The results of his approach are amazing.

Wild horses enter the training arena; half an hour later, there is a palpable trust between the animals and Monty. You can see the ongoing, non-verbal communication improving the relationship minute by minute.

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