Forward motion allows a heavy object to become more mobile. Consider this:
In dressage, my sport of choice, a horse and rider attempt to become one unit, moving together in harmony with fluidity while executing impressive movements. The horse weighs between 900 to 1,200 pounds on average and has four legs and a long neck to coordinate. The rider, much to people’s surprise, does not remain on the horse’s back by gripping with the legs. Instead the rider uses their weight (10-20% of the horse’s weight) and balance to influence and move with the horse while remaining in the saddle. It is also necessary for the rider to manage their own arms and legs, minimizing the flopping about as a result of the horse’s movement. View a fine example of dressage here.
With all of these “moving parts” it might seem reasonable that a slower pace with less energy from the horse would make executing a movement much easier. As a rider, this is a natural and logical decision our brain makes. Coupled with the fear that sometime emerges when we feel the full power of a horse effectively using their body, it is easy to see why we would want to slow down the movement. Control is easier the more slowly we go.
WRONG!
A horse that is not fully engaged is prone to:
- Spooking – a sudden movement often surprising the rider who ends up on the ground
- Bracing – resisting the movement as it is much more difficult in slow motion
- Training – a horse only knowing how to move slowly, lacking grace and beauty and resulting in low competition scores and greater potential for injury
A fully engaged horse can still surprise you (this is not a risk-free sport), however the greatest surprise about forward motion is that it makes everything EASIER! The easier the movement is on the horse, the more willing he is to do it. The more willing he is the less likely he is to spook or brace against a movement (which feels like 4000 lbs. pulling against you!) Competition scores go up and your horse stays sound.
But it gets even better…when you do screw up, and you will, by losing your balance or by miscommunication with your horse, the correction is easier than if you were moving slowly. The energy and forward motion provide the ability to correct course easily and move on to the next stage.
The energy and forward motion provide the ability to correct course easily and move on to the next stage.
Moving slowly has the same impact on our business. We encounter an unplanned hiccup and “spook” from our longer term plan. We don’t have the confidence of full forward momentum to overcome the scary object. If we are in slow motion, we resist and brace against what needs to happen such as adopting new technology or revamping our business model. We then train ourselves that moving slowly is acceptable and the mediocre results in our business reflect that.
Wow…that comparison is enough to get me off the duff and moving fully forward with grace and ease, easily adjusting and correcting and moving on. Are you fully forward?