The Power of the Herd: A Nonpredatory Approach to Social Intelligence, Leadership, and Innovation

Linda Kohanov is beloved for her groundbreaking articulation of "the way of the horse," an experiential wisdom known to riders for centuries but little studied or adapted to off-horse use. Now Kohanov takes these horse-inspired insights on the nonverbal elements of exceptional communication and leadership into the realms of our workplaces and relationships. Here we find "the wisdom of the prey" and its practical lessons on developing assertiveness, fostering creativity, dealing with conflict, and even heightening mind-body awareness. Kohanov draws on the behavior of mature horse herds to debunk theories of dominance hierarchies, challenge ingrained notions of "survival of the fittest," and demonstrate the power of a "consensual leadership," in which governing roles are fluid and based not on consensus but on joint sensing. Eloquent and provocative, this is horse sense for all who seek to thrive in the herds we all run in — our communities, careers, families, and friendships.