The concept of leading from behind appears in the news fairly often. The term has found expression via academia, in an idea put forth by Linda Hill of the Harvard Business School. She claims it originated from a reading of Nelson Mandela’s autobiography, in which he likened leaders to shepherds who tend their flocks from behind. Hill’s concept is exemplified by teams that collaborate in taking responsibility for projects and goals.

Having spent many years working with Navajo leaders in the southwestern United States, I learned a little about shepherding. I’ve spent even more time working with leaders in a great many cultures and found that the dynamics and principles of effective leadership are universal.

I need to point out that Hill’s idea of leading from behind is more of an observation about certain specific and limited iterations of work group dynamics than it is a proven practice. She opines that the workplace of the future will be different, but no one can really say in what way or how.

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