Musher Management

Musher Management is a leadership philosophy and set of managerial practices which are based upon the operating metaphor of a fully-teamed dogsled. Based in part on the principles espoused by Robert K. Greenleaf’s servant-leadership, Musher Management places the posture and influence of the leader (Chief Executive, Executive-in-Charge) in the rear of the group, where the leader becomes focused more on the construction and caretaking of the team, and on the establishment of processes and protocols to ensure that individuals of the team well understand their unique role, the inter-relatedness of the individual’s role to the roles of others, and how to conduct themselves within the team. As a practice, Musher Management fully exploits the physical realities of the dogsled team construction, the art and practice of driving a dogsled, the care and keep of the dogs, the qualities of a high-performing Musher, planning and executing a race, problem solving, and the like as devices which inform and bring to life the metaphor of the dogsled as a business enterprise.