You Can Lead A Horse To…
The phrase “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t force it to drink” isn’t strictly a business phrase – it dates back to the 12th century but does seem to get used often. It is usually intended to mean that you can’t force someone to do something they don’t want to do. As a leader, if you are struggling with individuals on the team refusing the water, the best option is to start drinking the water yourself. I’m blowing up this metaphor, but hopefully, you get this idea. This assumes that what y’all are trying to do is aligned with the core values of the Organization and the individuals.
Conclusion: If you want someone on your team to do something, you must be willing to do it yourself.
References and Resources
You can lead a horse to water by Grammarist; Type: Article
Does this resonate with you? Have you ever experienced this level of resistance to something? We’d love to hear from you.
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3 thoughts on “You Can Lead A Horse To…”
I interpret the phrase differently, less aggressively or directive. You have attached an intensity I do not believe was intended in the proverb. The notion that someone is “refusing the water” is predicated on you, the person leading the horse, having an expectation or preconceived notion about the “water.” In that case, I think you might be looking for something more like “taking your medicine,” “getting on the bandwagon/bus,” or “supporting the mission.”
That’s great feedback. I have heard it used as a way of expressing exasperation about an individual or team and not used directly, but your other phrases are spot-on.
As NOT your psychologist, I certainly have NOT noticed a trend towards corporate Kool-Aid and excessive rah-rah cultures.