Leadership Development and the Horse Race
Horse racing has a long and distinguished history. Its origins can be traced back to the ancient world of Babylon and Egypt. Today, horse races are held in many different countries, from the United States to Australia. The race has also evolved into a large public-entertainment business.
Horse races are a good metaphor for business and leadership. They have the power to bring a variety of benefits to an organization. For example, they can help in the selection of a new leader. In addition, they are a great way to create a culture of leadership development.
Horses are renowned for their speed and stamina. To succeed, they need to be trained and encouraged. As a result, they’re often referred to as the “ultimate athletes”. This is especially true of the American Thoroughbred, a thoroughbred that’s still in circulation today. Their legs are delicate, so they need to be carefully trained to run smoothly and efficiently.
A horse’s performance can be influenced by a variety of factors, including the jockey, age, gender, and training. It’s important to note that the horse’s performance can also be influenced by the position of the horses in the field. If a horse is in the middle of the pack, its chances of winning are less likely.
One of the more unusual aspects of horse racing is that it has a long and distinguished history. Archeological records show that horse racing was a major sport in Ancient Greece and Babylon. Similarly, the first documented horse race was a wager between two noblemen in France.
Interestingly, there’s a strong correlation between the occurrence of a horse race and the ability of a company to select a new leader. It’s an example of an overt competition for a top job, which indicates a board’s faith in the company’s leadership development process and its employees’ abilities to rise to the occasion.
In a classic succession “horse race,” two or three senior executives compete against each other. The winner is then promoted to the role of chief executive officer. While this may not be ideal for some executives, it can serve as a motivating factor for many.
Horse racing has also been an effective way to determine which candidates have what it takes to be the next CEO of a major company. Although this approach can be somewhat uncomfortable for some executives, it’s been proven to produce a number of stellar leaders at giant companies such as General Electric.
However, the horse race concept has been criticized for many years. This is largely because of the trivial nature of the race itself, as well as the fact that the coverage of the event tends to focus on the front runners. And, it’s not uncommon for companies that select a champion to lose other senior executives deeper in the organization.
Despite the shortcomings, the horse race concept has been around for centuries. In the United States, the Preakness Stakes is an American classic.