This past weekend, we hosted the Five Roles of a Master Herder workshop at New Jersey’s Center for Conscious Horsemanship. Led by Lisa Murrell, Organizational Development Consultant and Certified Five Roles Instructor, Founder of Meta-Systems Integrated Strategies, and Equine Alchemy, participants engaged in transformative activities while I reflected on my years leading investment teams in global finance.
According to Linda Kohanov, author of The Five Roles of a Master Herder and founder of Eponaquest, our team’s strength came from instinctively embodying the roles—Leader, Dominant, Sentinel, Nurturer/Companion, and Predator—rooted in herding cultures and nature-inspired behavior. Without formal labels, we fluidly shifted roles, fostering a dynamic, resilient team built on trust and respect.
As a Leader, I set direction with team input. As a Sentinel, I shielded colleagues from external pressures. Others stepped up as Dominant to enforce deadlines, as Predator to cull unproductive strategies, or as Nurturer/Companion to foster trust and spark creativity.
At times, we each needed to step into another’s role, even requesting others to step into our own when necessary. This fluidity—adapting to the moment—allowed everyone to contribute strengths, creating a cohesive unit that thrived under pressure. In corporate settings, this translates to agile decision-making, stronger team alignment, and resilience amid market shifts, empowering leaders to navigate complexity and build high-performing teams.
The activities at the Center for Conscious Horsemanship, guided by Lisa’s expertise, mirrored this dynamic. Inspired by natural systems, we explored how balanced role-sharing drives collaboration, revealing our group’s strengths and imbalances.
This applies not only to teams but also to personal growth: our inner Leader pursues goals, Nurturer fosters bonds, and Predator sets boundaries. Balancing these roles also fuels adaptability in life and community, from strengthening family ties to leading civic initiatives with empathy and vision.
Reflect:
- Are you a visionary Leader, a vigilant Sentinel, or a nurturing Companion?
- Do you ensure group cohesion by correcting disruptive behavior as a Dominant or act with resolve, when necessary, as a Predator?
- Can you identify where you tap into each role to position your team for success?
Encourage your team to embrace all roles, letting each Member’s innate gifts shine!