Sometimes the simplest truths hit the hardest. A new Gallup study has revealed that what followers crave most from their leaders isn’t strategy or pay—it’s humanity. These four things matter most: hope, trust, compassion, and stability. But why are these qualities so difficult to deliver, and how can they change the way we lead, live, and connect?

In this conversation on the Leading with Instinct podcast, Katie Navarra-Bradley, Professional Facilitator and Leadership Coach with Katie the Coach, and Ginny Telego, President of Collaboration Partners, explore the powerful Gallup study through the lens of their equine-assisted leadership work.

Together they unpack why these four human needs are the foundation of real leadership and how horses, as natural truth-tellers, reflect what happens when our energy, intentions, and actions fall out of alignment. They also share deeply personal and practical stories that show what it looks like to rebuild hope and trust, both in the arena and within organizations.

The conversation is a reminder that leading with instinct isn’t about control—it’s about courage, connection, and creating space for others to succeed alongside you.

The Leading With Instinct Podcast is brought to you by Collaboration Partners and KatieTheCoach.com.

Takeaways

-Hope is the emotional foundation that connects today’s work to tomorrow’s outcomes.

-Trust grows through consistency, honesty, and transparency.

-Compassion means listening deeply, asking questions, and caring about people beyond their performance.

-Stability comes from routines and reliability that anchor teams through change.

-Command-and-control leadership may feel safe but often erodes engagement and confidence.

-True leadership requires vulnerability and the courage to let go of control and build a partnership.

-Energy matters: your team (and your horse) feel what you bring into the space.

-Culture shifts begin with self-awareness and presence, not new systems or slogans.

-Giving people hope doesn’t mean avoiding reality; it means creating belief in what’s possible.

-Meeting human needs isn’t “soft.” It’s a strategic essential that drives results and retention.

Chapters

00:50 – Finding Presence & Setting the Stage

02:31 – What Followers Need Most: Insights from Gallup

07:00 – The Real Challenges of Human-Centered Leadership

11:42 – Lessons from the Arena: Hope, Trust, and the Power of Connection

18:40 – Control vs. Trust: Stories That Change How We Lead

26:38 – Rebuilding Confidence—With Horses and Teams

32:58 – Practical Takeaways: Leading with Instinct and Impact

Helpful Links:

Gallup Study: The Four Things Followers Need: https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/251003/strengths-based-leadership-things-followers-need.aspx

Ginny Telego, Collaboration Partners: https://www.thecollaborationpartners.com/

Katie Navarra-Bradley, Katie The Coach: https://katiethecoach.com/

Leaders often rely on quick decisions and familiar patterns, but lasting impact requires something deeper. Transformation begins when we quiet the noise, notice what is happening in the moment, and open ourselves to what is emerging. Presencing mastery offers a way to unlock clarity, trust, and authentic connection.

In this conversation on the Leading with Instinct podcast, Katie Navarra-Bradley, Professional Facilitator and Leadership Coach with Katie the Coach, and Ginny Telego, President of Collaboration Partners, are joined by Lissa Pohl, Chief Engagement Officer at the Engagement Quotient and a pioneer in Equine Assisted Learning (EAL).

Drawing from her recent article in the International Journal of Presencing Leadership and Coaching, Lissa explains how presencing moves beyond mindfulness and presence, offering a path to access deeper somatic and relational intelligence. The focus turns to how horses act as clean feedback experts, showing leaders how to disrupt default behaviors, shift from predatory to relational approaches, and practice leading from the future that wants to emerge.

These small shifts help leaders build resilience, foster trust, and create the space for genuine transformation in their organizations and relationships.

The Leading With Instinct Podcast is brought to you by Collaboration Partners and KatieTheCoach.com.

Takeaways

-Presencing is deeper than mindfulness. It’s accessing a state of stillness where new possibilities can emerge.

-Horses model presence naturally and offer clean, non-judgmental feedback.

-Equine Assisted Learning brings leadership concepts from the head into the whole body.

-Relational leadership shifts us away from unconscious predatory habits.

-Leaders must integrate intellectual, emotional, physical, and spiritual intelligence.

-Clean feedback creates calm, clarity, and authentic learning.

-Presencing helps leaders respond in the moment rather than relying on old patterns.

-Everyday practices like pausing, observing, and asking curious questions build presencing skills.

-These approaches create clarity and connection even in complex situations.

Chapters

00:40 Introduction/Meet Lissa Pohl

3:10 Unpacking Presencing Mastery

08:00 The Body as Intelligence

15:09: Learning Presencing from Horses

22:00 Horses as Clean Feedback Experts

25:53 From Predatory to Relational Leadership

33:06 Practical Steps for Presencing

Helpful Links:

Article - The Effectiveness of Equine Assisted Learning to Develop Presencing Mastery : https://revues.ulaval.ca/ojs/index.php/ijplc/article/view/54168

Lissa Pohl, The Engagement Quotient: https://enqcoaching.com/

Ginny Telego, Collaboration Partners: https://www.thecollaborationpartners.com/

Katie Navarra-Bradley, Katie The Coach: https://katiethecoach.com/

You thought you explained it clearly. You handed off the project. But what came back wasn’t at all what you envisioned. Sound familiar? Whether you’re leading a team, onboarding new employees, or collaborating with clients, one truth remains: people can’t meet expectations that were never clearly set. And clarity isn’t just helpful—it’s essential.

In this conversation, Katie Navarra-Bradley, Professional Facilitator and Leadership Coach with Katie the Coach, and Ginny Telego, President of Collaboration Partners, explore the leadership blind spot that hinders productivity, fuels frustration, and undermines success: unclear expectations. What emerges is a practical, and energizing conversation about bridging the gap between what leaders expect and what teams deliver.

Through stories from the horse arena, the workplace, and their own coaching and leadership experiences, Ginny and Katie unpack how assumption bias, generational shifts, time pressure, and poor communication keep leaders from setting their people up for success. They also offer real tools for change. You’ll find simple, effective ways to align your vision with your team’s actions and outcomes.

This is a reminder that no one performs well in the dark. Clear expectations fuel confident action. When leaders lead with clarity, context, and curiosity, everyone moves forward.

The Leading With Instinct Podcast is brought to you by Collaboration Partners and KatieTheCoach.com.

Takeaways

-Assumption bias often causes leaders to overestimate what others understand or know.

-Today’s workforce, especially Gen Z, craves clarity and context, not micromanagement.

-Without clearly defined success, frustration and rework are inevitable for both leaders and team members.

-Leaders often unintentionally skip the clarity step due to time pressure or lack of leadership training.

-Psychological safety is key: create a culture where asking for clarification is welcomed, not judged.

-Regular check-ins help reinforce expectations and prevent disconnects.

-Tools like kickoff meetings, shared language, and aligning daily tasks with big-picture goals foster ownership and engagement.

-Preparing people well is foundational, not optional, for strong performance and culture

Chapters

00:46 Preparing Expectations

04:35The Expectation Gap

12:46 Taking Time for Efficiency

15:04 Leadership Training for Leaders

19:44 Solutions to Clarify Expectations

22:38 Defining Success

32:44 Why Does This Matter?

35:44 Actionable Steps to Improve Clarity of Expectations

Helpful Links:

Ginny Telego, Collaboration Partners: https://www.thecollaborationpartners.com/

Katie Navarra-Bradley, Katie The Coach: https://katiethecoach.com/