πͺ¦ The Dead Horse Theory: When Letting Go Is the Boldest Form of Leadership
Sometimes, the bravest thing a leader can do is dismount. Not from the saddle of power but from the illusion that persistence always equals progress. This is the heart of the Dead Horse Theory. --- π΄ The Parable of the Dead Horse Imagine this: You’re riding a horse toward a destination. The horse collapses. It’s dead. But instead of dismounting, you… - Buy a stronger whip - Hire consultants to analyze the horse’s behavior - Form a committee to revive it - Benchmark other horses - Rename it “living-impaired” - And finally… ride it harder Absurd? Yes. But in leadership, it happens all the time. --- π§ What the Theory Really Means The Dead Horse Theory is a metaphor for clinging to failing strategies, outdated systems, or broken relationships, simply because they once worked, or because we’re too afraid to pivot. It’s not about giving up. It’s about knowing when to stop feeding what no longer s...