A guide to living and leading through the wisdom of nature, indigenous knowledge, neuroscience, and an uncommon teacher.
Underneath the challenges of our modern age, we find a common cause of disconnection-from each other, the earth, and lives of purpose and meaning. How do we turn it around? In Flying Lead Change, Kelly Wendorf offers a guide for a new approach to leading and living, grounded in evidence-based principles of neuroscience and inspired by two profound sources of ancient wisdom: Original Peoples and Equus (the horse).
Wendorf presents the wisdom of a 56-million-year-old system-the horse herd-that overcame threats we now face, such as climate change and mass extinction. Here, she shares the five pillars of their success: safety, peace, connection, joy, and freedom. She reveals how true leaders in both human and equine society use these principles to benefit the whole-a model of servant leadership based on presence and care, not dominance, force, exploitation, or coercion.
In horsemanship, a "flying lead change" allows a running horse to respond with breathtaking grace to changing conditions. "Collectively, we need a similar physics-defying maneuver," Wendorf writes. "This book is for the called-thought leaders, visionaries, parents, creatives, and all those who sense we are being asked to participate in humanity’s ‘flying change’ through the way we live, love, and lead."
About the Author
Kelly Wendorf is an executive and personal development certified master coach, educator, spiritual mentor, and socially responsible entrepreneur. She is founding partner of EQUUS, a leadership development organization that works with high-performing individuals, groups, and thought leaders. Her evidence-based approach to creating conditions for breakthrough transformative learning has earned her worldwide acclaim. She lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Industry Reviews
"With compelling stories and deep insight into the shared nature of horses and humans, this beautifully written book teaches us how to change stride in mid-gallop as individuals with each other, and as a species with the earth. Soulful, practical, scientific, and spiritualwhat a profound book!"
Rick Hanson, PhD, author of Neurodharma
"Kelly Wendorf offers an equine-inspired way of knowing and being in the world. A wise, wise workabout listening, leading, loving."
Richard Louv, author of Our Wild Calling and Last Child in the Woods
"As an assault team leader and officer in the Navy SEAL teams, I had constant access to world-class modern training and technology. But it was the ancient lessonsthose of Spartans, samurai, and stoic philosophersthat guided my leadership journey to success on and off the battlefield. Flying Lead Change is no ordinary leadership book; it is an ancient lessons manual for how to lead and live well in any century."
Navy SEAL Commander Rorke T. Denver, New York Times bestselling author of Damn Few
"As someone who has spent their career working to create unstoppable cultures, I am thrilled that Kelly has written a book like Flying Lead Change. With an approach that focuses on principles from the equine worldcare, connection, and joyshe has created a culture guide for leaders. When put into practice, these principles have the potential to not only impact teams and organizations, but families and communities as well. This book is such a gift!"
Ginger Hardage, former Senior VP of Culture and Communications for Southwest Airlines
"Flying Lead Change is unique and extraordinary. It integrates wisdom with the practical, inspiration with proven research, and laughter with tears. Contemporary leaders who heed the advice and guidance of ancient wisdom will gain essential advantages and be forever changed. It is the clear promise of this book."
Micki McMillan, MCC, CEO and founding partner of Blue Mesa Coaching
"After spending time with Kelly at the EQUUS ranch in Santa Fe, it comes as no surprise that she has written a book that's a true game changer for leaders. Flying Lead Change brings together the age-old wisdom of the natural world with the newest data on neuroscience. The result is a guide that is both inspiring and practicala must-read for any leader who longs to create lasting change in their organization and discover lasting joy while doing so. Kelly's book will awaken your heart and mind to what it means to be truly human on the 'great wild ride of life.'"
Jayson Teagle, CEO of Collideoscope
