By Stephen C. Schultz
I had an experience at Oxbow Academy a few weeks ago. It’s
an experience that is transferable to just about any work environment. I hope
you find this helpful as you interact with colleagues in your place of employment.
Thomas Holmes, our photographer and I were at Oxbow taking
pictures of the administration team. This included the Executive Director,
Residential Director, Academic Director and teachers. It also included the
Clinical Director and therapists. All of these shots were for use on the website.
We decided to take the pictures in the new horse arena so we can have a
standard backdrop, regardless of outside weather. In the future, we will be
glad to have a standard backdrop.
I was standing next to the tack room with a group of
teachers. I was making small talk and noticed a few of them standing there
watching Tony and Brita working with a student and a horse. There was no
conversation happening with the teachers, they were 100% focused on the therapy
session. Because of distance and the activity, you could tell there was
interaction and conversation going on with Tony, Brita and the student, but
you couldn’t hear much of what was being said. Yet, the teachers were still
enthralled with the process.
I took a step closer to the teachers and asked if they knew
much about equine therapy. They all shook their head no. I started sharing some
of the basics about equine therapy and why we use it. They would turn their
head to me, and then turn back to Tony and Brita. I asked if they had met Tony
and his wife Brita. They said they had seen them around. I motioned to them to
follow me and we walked to the edge of the panels. I caught Tony’s eye and he
came over. We made introductions and I asked Tony to explain a little about the
process of equine therapy.
Tony did what Tony does…he connected immediately with the
teachers. He discussed what they were doing with this student, (who the
teachers knew and cared for) and how equine therapy helps to build competence, mastery
and resilience. Then, just like that we were called to get pictures taken and
the experience was over.
I was thinking about this on the drive back to my office. I
know one thing from that brief interaction…those teachers gained a deeper
understanding of Oxbow Academy. They probably have a bit more pride in their
association with the program and will probably interact with that particular
student in a more informed way in the future.
So, in your particular workplace, do you have different
departments that may not fully understand what you do? Are there aspects of
other departments you don’t fully understand? Would it be helpful and
contribute to an improved culture if you better understood the “Big Picture”?
How can you make that happen?
In the world of therapy, we often hear the term “Teachable
Moments”. Even the teachers themselves can have teachable moments!
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