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/