What is the ‘Bull by the Horns’ Executive Leadership Program?
In this unique leadership program, Evolve draws on Indigenous Wisdom and Aboriginal rodeo as a metaphor for business leaders and entrepreneurs. This leadership wisdom includes Dreamtime philosophy and practices like Dadirri (Deep Listening) and Indigenous meditation methods.
Taking or grabbing the bull by the horns commonly refers to an individual or organisation tackling something difficult or risky, head-on.
The phrase originated from the ancient sport of bull leaping in Crete which survives in the modern sport of bull riding. Not just an American pastime, the sport is also popular in Australia where many Indigenous people attend the rodeo to watch or participate. Although a dangerous sport, bull-riding has much to teach us about leadership.
“It’s a metaphor for life,” says Gary Leffew, world champion bull rider who has been training top competitors in the field for over three decades. It’s all about mindfulness, he points out and finding one’s balance. According to Leffew, bull riding teaches us courage and resilience and facing our inner demons.
“The battle in rodeo is not with the animal, it’s with the weakness within yourself,” says the former world champ. And while bull riding is an individual sport, it requires the assistance of other people, reminding us of the importance of collaboration and teamwork. Ultimately though, bull riding requires fearlessness. As one young female rider remarked, “You can’t fear anything if you want to succeed.”