Goal Setting: What Horses Can Teach Leaders about Hitting Their Marks

Setting goals in the New Year? Good for you, but be careful. Beating yourself up for goals you didn’t hit is too easy. The hard work comes in setting clear goals from the beginning. If you’re feeling stuck, you’re not alone. And feeling stuck doesn’t mean you failed. Clarity, movement, and direction matter more than rigid destinations when it comes to actually hitting those marks.In this episode of the Leading with Instinct podcast, Katie Navarra-Bradley, Professional Facilitator and Leadership Coach with Katie the Coach, and Ginny Telego, President of Collaboration Partners, reflect on the podcast’s one-year anniversary, (a stretch goal in itself!) and unpack what goal-setting actually looks like when leadership, business, and life collide. This conversation weaves together stories of business setbacks and major life disruptions, with lessons learned in the arena with horses. Horses become powerful mirrors, revealing how unclear energy, misaligned intentions, or the wrong goal at the wrong time can stall movement altogether.Rethink success, not as hitting every mark on a timeline, but as staying in motion, adjusting when needed, and choosing goals that fit the reality of the moment.Takeaways-Feeling stuck often means clarity is missing-Direction creates movement; fixation on outcomes can create paralysis-Course correction is leadership in action-Shared leadership and trusted perspectives help prevent unnecessary self-punishment-Breaking goals into directional steps builds momentum and resilience-The “right” goal depends on timing, environment, and current reality-Progress is often quieter and more meaningful than we expectThe Leading With Instinct Podcast is brought to you by Collaboration Partners and KatieTheCoach.com.Chapters00:34 — Introduction02:52 — One-year anniversary. Goal Achieved!05:39 — Destination vs Direction08:47 — Major life disruptions and forced course correction11:38 — Finding your “herd” for perspective and support14:49 — Ignoring outside pressure to pursue the right path19:09 — Imposter syndrome22:16 — How Horses can show direction25:31 — Setting the right goals32:46— Directional goals vs. rigid outcomes36:00 — Letting go of control and choosing intentionHelpful Links: Katie Navarra-Bradley, Katie The Coach: https://katiethecoach.com/Ginny Telego, Collaboration Partners: https://www.thecollaborationpartners.com/