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The Five Roles of a Master Herder: A Revolutionary Model for Socially Intelligent Leadership
Across several bestselling books, author and teacher Linda Kohanov has explored “the way of the horse,” an experiential wisdom gained by studying the nonpredatory power of horses. In The Five Roles of a Master Herder, she adapts these horse-inspired insights into useful tools for developing collaborative leadership and managing change.
Over thousands of years, Kohanov writes, “master herders” of nomadic herding cultures developed a multifaceted, socially intelligent form of leadership combining the five roles of Dominant, Leader, Sentinel, Nurturer / Companion, and Predator. The fluid interplay of these roles allowed interspecies communities to move across vast landscapes, dealing with predators and changing climates, protecting and nurturing the herd while keeping massive, gregarious, often aggressive animals together — without the benefit of fences and with very little reliance on restraints.
She includes an innovative assessment tool that will help you determine which roles you currently overemphasize and which roles you may be ignoring — or even actively avoiding. Through this powerful, at times surprising and moving book, Kohanov will show you how to recognize, cultivate, and utilize all five roles in the modern tribes of your workplace, family, and other social organizations.
Over thousands of years, Kohanov writes, “master herders” of nomadic herding cultures developed a multifaceted, socially intelligent form of leadership combining the five roles of Dominant, Leader, Sentinel, Nurturer / Companion, and Predator. The fluid interplay of these roles allowed interspecies communities to move across vast landscapes, dealing with predators and changing climates, protecting and nurturing the herd while keeping massive, gregarious, often aggressive animals together — without the benefit of fences and with very little reliance on restraints.
She includes an innovative assessment tool that will help you determine which roles you currently overemphasize and which roles you may be ignoring — or even actively avoiding. Through this powerful, at times surprising and moving book, Kohanov will show you how to recognize, cultivate, and utilize all five roles in the modern tribes of your workplace, family, and other social organizations.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published May 10, 2016
About the author
Linda Kohanov
34 books72 followersLinda is an author, speaker, riding instructor and horse trainer who has become an internationally recognized innovator in the field of Equine Experiential Learning and a respected writer on the subject of Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy.
Her book "The Tao of Equus: A Woman’s Journey of Healing and Transformation through the Way of the Horse" was selected as one of the Top Ten Religion and Spirituality books of 2001 by Amazon.com.
Her second book, "Riding Between the Worlds: Expanding Our Potential through the Way of the Horse", was published in 2003.
Both books have been used as texts in university courses across the country and have received appreciative reviews in publications as diverse as Horse and Rider, Natural Horse, IONS Noetic Sciences Review, Shift, Spirituality and Health, Animal Wellness, The Equestrian News and Strides (the magazine published by the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association).
Among her numerous lectures throughout the U.S. and Canada, she was a presenter at the 2001 NARHA conference and was the keynote speaker at the 2003 NARHA conference. She was also a featured presenter at the 2004 International Transpersonal Conference.
Her book "The Tao of Equus: A Woman’s Journey of Healing and Transformation through the Way of the Horse" was selected as one of the Top Ten Religion and Spirituality books of 2001 by Amazon.com.
Her second book, "Riding Between the Worlds: Expanding Our Potential through the Way of the Horse", was published in 2003.
Both books have been used as texts in university courses across the country and have received appreciative reviews in publications as diverse as Horse and Rider, Natural Horse, IONS Noetic Sciences Review, Shift, Spirituality and Health, Animal Wellness, The Equestrian News and Strides (the magazine published by the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association).
Among her numerous lectures throughout the U.S. and Canada, she was a presenter at the 2001 NARHA conference and was the keynote speaker at the 2003 NARHA conference. She was also a featured presenter at the 2004 International Transpersonal Conference.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
November 6, 2017
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I thought the book was very well written with good stories. I found myself paging through quickly hoping for the section that would address how I could be more effective when dealing with the various roles. When one works with a dominant, what style is most helpful, self protective, or best for the group? If a juvenile dominant horse started acting up I'd likely take on a Sentinal role scanning the territory looking for a safe escape and if possible be a leader or nurterer and move the other horses to safety. How does this work in family and vCard corporate dynamics?
I thought the book was very well written with good stories. I found myself paging through quickly hoping for the section that would address how I could be more effective when dealing with the various roles. When one works with a dominant, what style is most helpful, self protective, or best for the group? If a juvenile dominant horse started acting up I'd likely take on a Sentinal role scanning the territory looking for a safe escape and if possible be a leader or nurterer and move the other horses to safety. How does this work in family and vCard corporate dynamics?
October 28, 2018
somewhat a repeat of her previous books on equine leadership and intelligence and her mastery at understanding the horse world and their language. Its meant for leader's in organzation's to learn how to deal with relations in the leadership roles at corporations through the master herder in a horse social setting and training by her using or demo-ing how her horses have trained riders to work out their personal problems
January 11, 2018
This book is excellent. This book will help you in your job, in your personal relationships, and will make you feel an affinity for the thousands of years of human history when we were not sedentary city dwellers.
June 28, 2018
I wish I could 5 stars more than once! Incredibly thought provoking!
Currently Reading
January 30, 2023(up to chapter 8)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 19, 2016
Endorsements:
“The Five Roles of a Master Herder will amaze and delight anyone interested in why humans in positions of leadership behave the way they do.”
— Juli Lynch, PhD, president of Turning Pointe Coaching and Consulting
“A seminal masterpiece, Linda Kohanov’s The Five Roles of a Master Herder . . . clearly defines how nonpredatory power can lead to an evolved level of emotional heroism and the genuinely empathetic emotional intelligence needed to heal a world suffering a crisis of predatory leaders.”
— Chris Irwin, author of Dancing with Your Dark Horse: How Horse Sense Helps Us Find Balance, Strength, and Wisdom
“An innovative and practical nature-based approach to leadership — and life. This book is not just for corporate executives. Parents, teachers, community organizers, film directors, and especially politicians would all benefit from learning these skills.”
— William Shatner, actor, director, and author of Leonard: My Fifty-Year Friendship with a Remarkable Man and Up Till Now
“As a trauma specialist, I help people recover from abuse and criminal acts. Over the years, I’ve learned that empowered families are crucial to protecting their loved ones to begin with, for helping survivors of extreme experiences heal, and for leading the kind of cultural change that prevents violence. The Five Roles of a Master Herder provides a template for all adults to reclaim their power and use it wisely, at work and, perhaps more importantly, at home.”
— Rebecca Bailey, PhD, psychologist and author of Safe Kids, Smart Parents: What Parents Need to Know to Keep Their Children Safe
“The Five Roles of a Master Herder will amaze and delight anyone interested in why humans in positions of leadership behave the way they do.”
— Juli Lynch, PhD, president of Turning Pointe Coaching and Consulting
“A seminal masterpiece, Linda Kohanov’s The Five Roles of a Master Herder . . . clearly defines how nonpredatory power can lead to an evolved level of emotional heroism and the genuinely empathetic emotional intelligence needed to heal a world suffering a crisis of predatory leaders.”
— Chris Irwin, author of Dancing with Your Dark Horse: How Horse Sense Helps Us Find Balance, Strength, and Wisdom
“An innovative and practical nature-based approach to leadership — and life. This book is not just for corporate executives. Parents, teachers, community organizers, film directors, and especially politicians would all benefit from learning these skills.”
— William Shatner, actor, director, and author of Leonard: My Fifty-Year Friendship with a Remarkable Man and Up Till Now
“As a trauma specialist, I help people recover from abuse and criminal acts. Over the years, I’ve learned that empowered families are crucial to protecting their loved ones to begin with, for helping survivors of extreme experiences heal, and for leading the kind of cultural change that prevents violence. The Five Roles of a Master Herder provides a template for all adults to reclaim their power and use it wisely, at work and, perhaps more importantly, at home.”
— Rebecca Bailey, PhD, psychologist and author of Safe Kids, Smart Parents: What Parents Need to Know to Keep Their Children Safe
August 1, 2016
An interesting view point on how horses lead their herd mates. This book gives some insights and stories of how humans can transfer some of the skill sets used by horses to leading in the work place.
A creative way to gain some help dealing with situations of leadership, with interesting examples in the horse herd.
A creative way to gain some help dealing with situations of leadership, with interesting examples in the horse herd.
September 5, 2016
While a lot of the information is applicable to everyone's world, i feel like this book is geared toward the workplace, of which I am no longer (thankfully) a member.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews