FLYING LEAD CHANGE.
Flying Lead Change arrived in my life at exactly the right moment, introduced to me by my Coaching Supervisor when I needed to step back and reflect on my own approach to leadership. Kelly Wendorf expertly weaves together equine wisdom, neuroscience, indigenous teachings and contemplative practice to offer a model of leadership rooted not in dominance, but in care, presence, connection and joy.
Near the beginning of the book, one sentence really grabbed my attention.
“Neurocardiologists show that the heart sends more information to the mind than the mind sends to the heart. When the heart informs the mind, the mind gains wisdom.”
It reframed the familiar organisational cliché of “winning hearts and minds” and reminded me that leadership begins in the heart.
I knew from that sentence on, that I was going to learn a lot from reading this book.
The EQUUS approach, built from Wendorf’s own lived experience, creates a powerful synthesis: the intelligence of horses, the insights of indigenous elders, and the grounding of contemplative practice. The work at Thunderbird Ridge sounds extraordinary, a place where humans and horses co‑facilitate transformation.
At the centre of the book are the seven principles that horses organise their herds around: Care, Presence, Safety, Connection, Peace, Freedom and Joy.
These become a map for understanding how herds thrive and how humans can lead with more integrity and relational wisdom.
The book draws skilfully from neuroscience, nature‑based learning, and indigenous stories, especially those shared by Uncle Bob, which add depth and a sense of lineage.
It is a framework for those ready to slow down, listen, and lead from a different centre of gravity.
Listening is the starting point and I loved the line:
“Pause over the infinite possibility granted by not‑knowing. Here is where true change begins.”
This challenges leaders to release expertise long enough to truly hear. Many leaders I coach are working on this. Trying not to jump to solution mode or offer advice on what their team should do. If they learned to love taking a pause, the impact they would have on their teams would be powerful.
There are clear echoes of Servant Leadership throughout this book and it highlighted that in a herd, the leader is not the loudest or strongest, but the one who cares the most. Typically, she is a quiet, attentive mare. I found myself imagining how different our organisations would be if we chose leaders for their capacity to care and to be present.
Wendorf also encourages us into a deeper relationship with silence. Not simply mindfulness, but as a constant way of being. A radical slowing down in a world addicted to speed, productivity and “quick fixes.” A reminder I need as much as my coaching clients.
One of my favourite stories was of the Senior Leader who discovered that true leadership sometimes means leading from behind. The horses would not respond to him until he stepped back and allowed them to lead.
Kelly asks a powerful question that I am going to ask other leaders:
Do you lead from behind, creating leaders? Or from the front, creating followers?
Another central theme is making clear, congruent requests, grounded in connection and clarity. Owning what we ask for. Asking with presence, not tentativeness.
The Self‑Care Survey at the end felt like an important and compassionate wake‑up call. Without caring for our physical, emotional and relational wellbeing, none of the principles can take root. Presence requires capacity.
And then there is the book’s title.
A flying lead change is a movement in which a horse changes its leading leg in a canter without breaking stride. It requires harmony, balance, attentiveness and trust between horse and rider. Symbolically, it represents:
Changing direction while staying in motion
Transforming habits without collapse
Responding with grace instead of force
Creating fluid, joyful transition
It is not just change it is elegant, co‑created transformation.
Ultimately, the book returns us to joy.
Joy as a compass.
Joy as a leadership responsibility.
Joy as the signal that we are aligned with who we truly are.
In the end, we don’t just need change.
We need a flying lead change. one rooted in care, presence, connection, and above all, joy.
This is a beautiful book.
If the themes above have captured your interest then maybe I too am introducing you to it at the right time.