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Don’tFenceMeIn!
AncientWisdomforModernLeaders
Thefollowingoutlinesummarizesfivestylesofpower/socialinfluencethatcaneitherwork
atoddswitheachother,orenhancethewellbeingoftheentirecommunity.Mostpeople
prefertouseoneortworoles,andignoreorevenabdicatetheothers.Thetendencyto
overspecialize,however,createsdysfunctionatworkaswellasathome.Butasauthor
LindaKohanovdiscoveredinherstudiesofleadershipthroughouthistoryandacross
multiplecultures,thereisanotherway.
“Overthousandsofyears,nomadicpastoralists—tribesthatmovewithlarge,unrestrained
animals—developedamulti-faceted,sociallyintelligentformofleadershipcombiningall
fiveroles,”sheexplains.“Inlearningtousetheserolesinterchangeably,ratherthan
specializinginoneortwo,herdingculturesbecamefluentinwhenandhowtouseeachof
themtogreatesteffect.InunderstandingthedifferencesbetweentheDominant,Leader,
Nurturer/Companion,Sentinel,andPredatorroles,‘masterherders’wereabletocapture
theuniquepowerofeach.Intheprocess,theycreatedafluidvocabularyofinterventions
thatallowedinterspeciescommunitiestomoveacrossvastlandscapes.Thesepeoplehadto
dealwithpredatorsandchangingclimates,protectingandnurturingtheherdwhilekeeping
thesemassive,gregarious,sometimesaggressiveanimalstogether—withoutthebenefitof
fencesandwithverylittlerelianceonrestraints.”
Indoingextensiveresearchonthistopicforher2013bookThePoweroftheHerd:A
NonpredatoryApproachtoSocialIntelligence,LeadershipandInnovation,itbecameclear
thattheinterspeciessocializationandleadershipskillsusedby“masterherders”in
nomadicpastoralculturesuplifttheintelligenceoftheentirecommunity,resultingin
behaviorsocoordinated,sosophisticated,itbafflesthe21stcenturymind.Theserichly
nuancedleadershipskillswerelostwhenhumanitymovedtowardasedentary,city-based
lifestyle.Evenso,whenappliedtomodernsituations,theseancientprinciplescanhelpus
harnessthetalentsandcreativityoftheentirecommunity.
TheFiveRolesofaMasterHerdermodelgrewoutofthatresearch,necessitatingthe
writingofabookspecificallyonhowtoadaptthisancientwisdomtothemodernhuman
world.Overthelastfouryears,Lindaandhercolleagueshaveperfectedthemodel,bringing
ittocorporations,entrepreneurs,executiveMBAprograms,publicschools,banks,social
serviceagenciesandotherorganizationsonsixcontinents.
Thisnature-basedviewofsocially-intelligentleadershipoffersapowerfulyetrelatively
simpletemplateforhelpingpeopleunderstandinstinctualbehaviorsthatsurfaceingroups
ofsocialanimals,includinghumans.Moreimportantly,itofferssolutionsforhelpingteams,
families,corporatecultures,socialserviceagencies,educationalorganizations,and
communitiesadapttorapidchange,allowinggroupsofpeopletofaceunexpected
challengestogether---andcapitalizeonunexpectedopportunities.
TheFiveRolesofaMasterHerderbookincludesaProfessionalAssessmentToolLinda
developedwithJuliLynch,PhD.Forpeopletakingtheassessmentonline,thefollowing
Copyright2013byLindaKohanov
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summaryoffersaquicklookatthevariousroles.Formoreinformationontherichhistory
behindthismodel,aswellashowtodevelopandbalanceeachoftheroles,TheFiveRolesof
aMasterHerderbookandrelatedworkshopsoffertoolsthatyoucanimmediatelyputto
workinprofessionalandpersonalsettings.
Thefiverolesthatamasterherderemploys,fluidly,asneeded,include:
1. Dominant
2. Leader
3. Nurturer/Companion
4. Sentinel
5. Predator
Theoutlinebelowcoversthecharacteristicsandbenefitsofeachrole.Italsoshowshow
theserolesbecomedysfunctionalwhenoneortworolesareoveremphasizedincertain
individuals---acommonoccurrence,andsourceofmuchpainandmisunderstanding.
Helpingbusinessleaders,team-members,teachers,parents,andpolitical,religiousorsocial
activistsdevelopallfiveskillsinbalanceinstantlyupliftstheeffectivenessofanygroup.
Dominant
Pastoralcultureshavedevelopedarichlynuanced,unusuallysophisticatedviewof
leadershipbecauseoftheirawarenessofonesimplefact:Inherdsoflarge,powerful
animalsthatareallowedtomovefreelyandmaintainsomesemblanceofanatural
socialsystem,theDominantandtheLeaderareoftentwodifferentindividuals.Asa
result,theseculturesunderstandthedifferencebetweenthesetwoconcepts,whichare
oftenblurredinsedentary,dominance-submissionorientedsocialsystems,suchasour
own.
Indeveloping21stcenturyleadershipmodels,itisessentialtodistinguishbetween
dominanceandleadership,andlearnhowtousebotheffectively.
Thecharacteristics,benefitsandchallengesofdominantindividualsaresimilarin
humansandhorses/otherlargeherbivores.Intheiradolescent,unconsciousforms,the
instinctualimpulsesofnaturallydominantindividualscanbeharshanddestructive.
Whenusedconsciously,dominancebecomesaconstructiveelementofamature,wellbalancedleadershipstyle.MasterHerdersinpastoralcultureslearntousedominance
thoughtfullyandsparinglyforspecificpurposesthatenhancethewellbeingofthe
entirecommunity.
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InstinctualCharacteristicsofanImmatureDominant
Keepsothersawayfromsomethingvaluable
Usesintimidationasamanagementtool
Sometimesattacksothersfornoreason
(tokeepeveryoneabitonedge)
Intendstomakeotherslookawayormoveaway
Refusestomovewhenothersask
Herdsothersbydrivingfrombehind
BenefitsofAMatureDominant(especiallywhenbalancedwithotherroles)
“DirectandProtect”Orientation
Naturallyexcelsatsettingboundarieswithaggressors
Breaksupfightsbetweenherdmembers
Keepsotherherdmembersoutoftrouble
Movesstubbornorlazyherdmembers
Mostlikelytochallengepredators
ChallengesofanImmatureDominant
• Themaindysfunctionsofthedominantstemfromtheorientationto
intimidateandpushotherherdmembersawayfromfood,water,valuedherd
members,etc.
• Becauseimmaturedominantindividualsoccasionallylaunchundeserved
attacks,theyarethemostfeared,leasttrustedherdmembers.
• It’sdifficultforthemtoleadanyoneanywhereinacrisis.Immature
dominantsincreasepanicanddecreaseproblem-solvingabilitiesinothers.
UseDominanceThoughtfullyto:
Stopunproductivebehavioringroups
Managedisagreementsbetweenteammembers
Handleaggressiveorpassiveaggressivepowerplays
Motivate“lazy”orresistantindividualstotakeaction
Protectvaluableresourcesfromthosewhowouldtakeadvantage
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Leader
Inhorsesandotherlargeherbivores,certaincharacteristicsarecommonamong
individualswhootherherdmemberschoosetofollow:
YoungLeader
Isattractedtonovelsituations
Assessesthepossiblebenefits
Exhibitscuriosityandconfidencethatotherfindcontagious
MatureLeader
Exhibitsheightenedknowledgeofterrain,foodandwatersources,andpredators
Calmsandfocusesothersinacrisis
Doesnotgetinvolvedinpettyherddramas
Setseffectiveboundarieswithaggressorsanddominantsandthengoes“backto
grazing”
Humanleadersaddcreativitytothemix,addingthefollowingbenefitsandchallenges:
BenefitsofaLeader
Exhibitsexceptionalvisionaryqualities
Calmsandfocusesothersduringtenseornovelsituations
Motivatesthroughinspiration
ChallengesofaLeader
• Canlosetouchwithotherherdmembers,appearingalooforself-absorbed
• Sometimesgetssofaroutinfrontoftheherdthatotherscan’tfollow
• Seemsunsympatheticoreasilyfrustratedbyinterpersonaldramas
• Cantakeontoomuchresponsibilityduetodifficultydelegatingtasks,
especiallywhenthevisionisfirstforming(procedures,policiesandjob
descriptionsarenotclearinearlystagesofinnovation,andmustbetested
andmodifiedovertime;thisstagefeelslikeyouare“buildingaplanewhile
flyingit”)
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Nurturer/Companion
Characteristics
Monitorsthewellbeingofothers
Wantstomakeallmembersfeelcomfortable
MoreextrovertedNurturer/Companionscansocializewithanymemberoftheherd
MoreintrovertedNurturer/Companionsareaninvaluablesourceofloyaltyand
supporttofamilymembersandteammembers
Benefits
Holdstheherdtogether
Increasessocializationthroughaffectionandconnection
Ismostlikelytoappreciatediversity
Inwell-socializedherbivores,mostherdmembersshowsolidnurturingand
companionshipskills,eventhosewhoareherddominantsorleaders.Inhumans,
however,somepeopleover-emphasizenurturingandcompanionshipskills(oftenby
havingthisroleforceduponthemthroughrigidsexualstereotypes).Thiscanbecome
toxictothegroup.Thefollowingchallengesofthisroleareusuallyunintentional,a
resultoftheunconsciouspowerplaysnurturersengageinwhentheyhaven’t
developedotherformsofpower.
ChallengesoftheHumanNurturer/Companion
• Islesslikelytoleadbecauseofinterestinkeepingeveryonecomfortableand
together
• Hastroubledifferentiatingbetweenassertivenessandaggression
• Seesdominantasabusive,whilealsotryingtogetclosetohimorher,
inspiring“two-faced”behavior
• Powertendsto“gounderground”throughpassiveaggressivemovesand
grudgeholding
• Onapowerscaleof1to10,someonewhooveremphasizesthisrolecannot
“dialup”powerovera“5”withoutaddingfrustrationorrage.Thisperson
thenfeelsembarrassedabouttheexplosionafterwardandwillsometimes
retreatintoshame,orshameothersinresponse
• Hasatendencytousegossipasabondingtool
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Sentinel
Characteristics
• Stepsawayfromtheherdtowitnessdynamics,threats,andopportunities
fromawiderperspective
• Scansenvironmentsothatotherscansecurelyinteract,restordotheirjob
• Engagesarelaxedyetheightenedawarenessofthebigpictureinthepresent
(asopposedtotheleader’sfocusonthebigpictureinthefuture)
Benefits
• Actsasawitnesswhosimultaneouslyobserves“herddynamics”aswellas
howtheorganization,familyorcompanyinteractswiththeenvironment,
culture,orlargereconomic/political/socialsystem
• Alertsleaderswhenittheorganizationisindangeroflosingtrackofits
purposeorinneedofsupportandprotection
• ServesasaHolderofGroupConsciousnesswhostaysontheedgesbut
remainstunedintothegroup’slifeandwork,ideallykeepingitswelfarein
mindandheart
• “Smellssmokebeforeothersseethefire.”Actsasa“whistleblower”when
necessary.
• Fosterscalmnessandtrustinotherssotheycanrest,play,interact,ordo
theirworkwithoutvigilance,knowingthattheywillreceiveinformationon
changesintheenvironment,cultureormarketwithtimetoadjust
ChallengesofaSentinel
! Canbeseenasoverlylogical,aloofanddetached
! Tendstoemphasizegroupneedsattheexpenseofindividualneedsand
desires
! Sometimessuffersfromthe“shootthemessenger”phenomenon
! Maywithholdcrucialinformationorfailtowarnofimpendingdisaster(asan
actofrevengeforbeingdevaluedorasapowerplaytoundermine
designatedleadership)
! Whenlackinginsocialintelligence,theSentineltendstofocuson
spreadsheets,budgets,data,andprocedures,becomingoblivioustothe
emotionalneeds,interpersonaldilemmasandcreativeideasofco-workers
andfamilymembers
! Canbecomehyper-vigilantandproblem-focusedwithoutofferingsolutions,
relyingonotherstointerveneinconflict,createnewpolicies,andinventnew
productsorbusinessmodels
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PredatoryPower
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Nourishesselfatothersexpense
Valuesterritoryoverrelationship
Valuesgoaloverprocess
Fighttothedeathimpulseisstrong
Conquest/SurvivaloftheFittestorientation
“Killorbekilled”mentality
Cullstheweak
Musthidevulnerabilityatallcost
Purposefullyescalatesfear
Competitionemphasized
NonpredatoryPower
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Supportsindividualandgroupneedssimultaneously
Valuesrelationshipoverterritory
Valuesprocessovergoal
Stopsfightingwhenaggressorbacksoff
MutualAid/SafetyinNumbersorientation
“Liveandletlive”
Shieldstheweak
Vulnerableindividualscanrelyonothers
Conservesenergyfortrueemergencies
Cooperationemphasized
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Predator
Benefits(whenusedthoughtfullyandsparingly)
Cullswhatisnolongerneeded
Sensitivetoenergyandresourcedrains
Canmaketoughdecisionsduringleantimes
Keepslifeinbalancewithavailableresources
Offersadditionalprotectionfrompredators
Challenges(whenthisroleisoveremphasized)
• Tooquicktocullvulnerableorhighlysensitive“herdmembers,”orpeople
whosimplyneedmoresupportandtrainingtoexcel
• Sometimes“eatsitsownchildren,”preyingonteammembers,creating
rampantmistrust,paranoia,andpoliticalgamesthatwastetimeandmoney
foreveryoneinvolved
• Wantstowinatallcost,evenwhenit’snotinthebestinterestofthe
company,socialsystem,orself
• Overemphasizessurvivalofthefittest,competitionforlimitedresources
mentality,transferringcompetitionwithothercompaniestoneedless
competitionwithinthecompany,againwastingtimeandmoney
TheLeader,Dominant,Nurturer/CompanionandSentinelRolesaremost
effectivewhentheyareconsciouslyseparatedfrompredatoryimpulses.
Amongmasterherders,therolesofDominant,Leader,SentinelandNurturerCompanionareusedintheirnonpredatoryformsPredatorypowerisused
sparingly,mostlytokeeptheherdandtribeinbalancewithavailable
resources.
Inmodernsedentarycultures,suchasourown,however,predatorypoweris
activelypromoted,causingmanypeopleinpowertoemploydominance,
leadership,sentinelandevennurturing/companionshiproleswithan
underlyingpredatorymotivationthatcanbeextremelydestructivetothe
socialsystemasawhole,nottomentionconfusingandhurtfultoindividuals
whoencountersuchleaders.
PairingPredatoryPowerwiththeroleofDominant,forinstance,causesthose
inleadershippositionstobecomewastefulandabusive.PredatoryDominants
feeljustifiedinthrivingatothers’expense,hijackingtheresourcesofthe
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companyandthecommunityforshort-sightedpersonalgain.(Dictatorsare
predominantly,ifnotexclusively,PredatoryDominants.)
PairingPredatoryPowerwiththeroleofLeaderresultsincharismatic
individualswhoinitiallybuildonaninspirationalpresenceandsomegood
ideasoftheirown,yetovertimefeeljustifiedincallouslyhijackingothers’
ideas.(SteveJobsexhibitedthistendency,sometimescombiningitwith
intenselydominantbehavior.)
PairingPredatoryPowerwiththeroleofSentinelresultsinthetendencyto
collectandhoardinformationoninternaldynamicsandoutsideforcesthat
maketheorganizationvulnerabletoemergingmarkettrends,andculturalor
politicalshifts,ultimatelyusingtheseinsightsagainstleadersandcolleagues
atjusttherighttimetogainpersonaladvantage,(Example:facilitatinga
hostiletakeoverorsaleofabusinessthatwillresultinlayoffsforothersand
powerorprofitfortheSentinel.)
SimilarlydestructiveareNurturer/Companionswhodeveloppredatory
tendencies,astheycaneasilygainanindividual’strust,learnaboutthis
person’svulnerabilitiesthroughintimateconversations,andthensuddenly,
seeminglyinexplicably,usethosevulnerabilitiesagainsthimorherfor
personalgain.
Mostofthetime,thepredatoryimpulseispairedwithonlyoneortwoofthe
otherroles.(Sociopathsandpsychopathsarepredatoryindividualswithlittle
ornocapacityforempathyorconscience.Luckily,mostarenotskilledatall
fiveroles,andcanoftenbeimpulsiveanddisorganizedaswell.)
True“EvilGeniuses,”however,areadeptatusingallfiverolestomanipulate
peopleandsituationsexclusivelyfortheirownpersonalgain.Agreatexample
ofsucha(hopefullyrare)individualisthefictionalsenatorintheNetflix
seriesHouseofCards.It’sfascinatingtowatchthemaincharacter,playedby
KevinSpacey,employtheDominant,Leader,Sentinel,and
Nurturer/Companionshiprolesexclusivelyforpredatorypurposes--eventuallyreachingthepresidencythroughthefluidandnefarioususeofall
fiverolesasneeded.
AMasterHerder,ontheotherhand,usespredatorypowersparinglyandwith
tremendousskillandempathy,forthegoodofthetribe,theherdandtheecosystem.HeorsheemploysnonpredatoryformsoftheDominant,Leader,
Sentinel,andNurturer/Companionroles,whileusingthePredatorrolefor
sustainabilityrelatedissues,keepinglifeinbalancewithavailableresources.
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TheUltimateEvolutionaryAdvantage
GainingandthenmaintainingthebalanceofallfiveMasterHerderroles,usingthem
attherighttimeandrightplace,mitigatesthechallengesanddysfunctionsthat
surfacewhenanysingleroleisoveremphasized.
Wheneveryonedevelopstheseskills,itishardforanyoneindividualto
manipulate,victimize,ortakeadvantageofothers.Andtheintelligence,
creativity,andpoweroftheentire“herd”areelevated!
Copyright2013byLindaKohanov