The Daily Stand-Up: Horse Edition
Every morning, without fail, a group of horses gathers under the same tree in a paddock at the back of my family home. They stand in a neat little cluster, ears flicking, tails swishing, looking for all the world like they’re engaged in a highly productive stand-up meeting.
I like to imagine their agenda goes something like this:
Review yesterday’s activities – “Great job on the synchronized rolling in the dust, team. Truly outstanding commitment to getting grubby.”
Plan the day ahead – “Shall we spook at the wheelbarrow again, or mix things up with a dramatic bolt from the fluttering plastic bag?”
Confirm break times – “As usual, we’ll take an extended lunch break in the sunny spot, then move to the shade for the afternoon nap shift.”
Then, with a few good-natured snorts and a final tail flick, they disperse to do what they do best—be horses. Grazing, galloping, swishing flies away, and generally embracing their horsiness to the fullest.
And really, isn’t that what we should be doing at work?
Every morning, we gather—whether it’s a literal stand-up meeting, a quick chat over coffee, or just a moment to mentally prepare for the day. We set our intentions, get clear on what’s ahead, and then head off to be the best versions of ourselves doing what we do best.
And this is key—not just doing our work, but doing it as us. The best, most you-ing-ist you. Because just like a horse doesn’t waste time trying to be a cow or a particularly ambitious sheepdog, we do our best work when we lean into what makes us, well, us.
That means bringing our unique strengths, quirks, and perspectives to the table. It means not getting stuck in comparison or worrying that someone else is more productive, more innovative, or has fancier PowerPoint transitions. It means knowing that our value isn’t in being someone else—but in being fully ourselves, doing our work in our way, with confidence.
Sure, our workdays may involve fewer dust baths and dramatic reactions to plastic bags (though who among us hasn’t been startled by an unexpected email?). But the principle is the same: take a moment to steady yourself, align with your team, and then go forth and do your thing—whatever that thing may be.
And if that thing includes an afternoon nap shift… well, maybe those horses are onto something.