Dive summary:

• Merrill Stewart, president of commercial contractor Stewart Perry Co. in Birmingham, Ala., finds a couple of business analogies in experiences in and out of the saddle in Ireland and the Dakotas.
• You are the rider and in charge, but if you have a good horse – or workers – that you chose well, it's sometimes wise to let the horse have its head, making decisions about its footing and speed when it has a better perspective on the trail.
• Sometimes you are walking behind out of the horse's view, and it's a good idea to keep a hand on the horse's hip so it knows you are there – treatment that sometimes is what clients need, too.

From the article:

I’m all about taking the time to hire good people, then loosening upon the reins. ...