The laughter could be heard ringing out across the desert. I was listening to them as I looked up at the clear blue sky from my position being face up on the ground, flat on my back. I did not think what my horse did to me was very funny at all.

I sat up a little dazed and said... well I can't exactly say what I said here, but suffice it to say I wasn't happy!

Let me just say that when a cutting horse turns left to gather a stray, you'd better be ready to go with him when he decides to make that move!

That's how I found myself being laugh at and enjoying the clear blue sky. I had been on many horses, but never on a cutting horse like Stanley. He was probably the best in the state. I began to think who was in charge here? My horse or me!

We were out gathering cattle on the range and I felt very relaxed in the saddle. I wasn't even holding the reins most of the time. Stanley knew what he was doing. I was just along for the ride.

I have thought of this experience often. I can laugh about it now just about as hard as my cowboy buddies did out on the range, well almost anyway. As with many other stories, I have brought this one into my workplace a time or two.

I know that we as managers get in the 'groove' at times because of how well things are going. We let go of the reins and allow things to be on autopilot. We simply sit back and relax.

It feels great to be in the saddle and enjoy the fall breeze and the sunshine. The horse (employees) are doing great. But all of a sudden from out of nowhere, they make a sharp turn. A project has stalled out because another employee has dropped the ball.

Hope the employees I have managed in the past don't mind me using them in this analogy as cows and horses! But I think you get the point here.

How can we keep everyone going in the same direction? It is not easy. If the manager (cowboy) relaxes and is not even holding the reins, who becomes the one in charge. The employee (horse) suddenly steers sharply to the left to correct a fellow employee (cow, now ladies keep your bonnets on here! No gender is implied!). In the sudden turn of events the manager (cowboy) is left in the star gazing position.

I have experienced this both out on the range and in the workplace. A great manager learns and grows with his team. He knows when to relax (not let go of the reins) and when to encourage his employees. When to give directions and when to allow employees to explore on their own. I have learned that staying in the saddle requires balance. That same balancing act is an essential key to being a good manager.