Subordinate as Prey

Take a look at the dynamics between a trainer and a horse. It's not that different from what you see in the workplace.

Canada's top equine behaviorist is clinician Chris Irwin, an unusually creative and articulate teacher. Besides helping people with their horses, Chris has found that his observations on horse behavior have direct application in the office. He explains.

"Whenever two human beings are relating and one person is in the power position, what that makes the other person is the prey, is the victim, the horse. I'm the CEO and I'm trying to get something out of my Vice President of Marketing. I need him to do his job better, so psychologically how we approach that really is not unlike how a good trainer would approach a horse."

Chris points out that body language is key and must be consistent, not only with what is said, but with the speaker's intent as well.