Business Instincts: Hunters, Farmers, and Teamers

5 min read

The instincts that have driven the evolution of life for millions of years are the same forces driving business today—adaptation, growth, and survival. These instincts are deeply rooted in nature, shaping how we adapt to our environments, secure resources, take risks, and build communities. Every individual brings a unique set of instincts to their work, instincts that reflect primal drives found throughout nature. These natural tendencies can be grouped into three main instincts: Hunters, Farmers, and Teamers.

Understanding your own instinct can provide clarity on your strengths and challenges. Recognizing these instincts in others can reveal the often hidden dynamics within your team or company.

The Hunter Instinct

If you are a Hunter, you are probably driven by the thrill of the chase. You’re constantly scanning the horizon for new opportunities, whether it’s a fresh market, a new product idea, or a chance to disrupt the status quo. Hunters are often skilled at thinking quickly and acting decisively. You’re energized by the pursuit of growth and innovation and are not afraid to take calculated risks to achieve success.

You might see yourself as someone who thrives in fast-paced environments where adaptability and bold decision-making are crucial. When others are hesitant to move forward, you’re the one pushing ahead, comfortable with ambiguity and motivated by the potential of what’s next.

But at times, you may feel confined by too much structure or excessive planning. Your natural habitat is out in the front, exploring new territory, not sitting behind a desk fine-tuning details. Your greatest strength is your ability to see possibilities where others may not—and your ability to act on them.

The Farmer Instinct

If you are a Farmer, your strength lies in cultivating and nurturing what has been established. You focus on turning ideas and opportunities into something lasting, ensuring that the seeds planted today grow into sustainable successes tomorrow. You excel at developing systems, refining processes, and managing resources effectively. Farmers are the ones who ensure that the company’s operations are stable and that its growth is sustained over the long term.

You might see yourself as someone who enjoys bringing order to chaos, following through on projects, and ensuring that nothing is left unfinished. Your instinct is to grow and protect the assets that are already in place, enhancing them over time to ensure they flourish. You’re likely more focused on long-term strategy than on immediate results, finding satisfaction in seeing the steady progress of your efforts.

However, in environments where things move too quickly without enough structure, you may feel overwhelmed or frustrated. You’re at your best when you can dig in, improve what’s already there, and ensure that growth is steady, predictable, and sustainable.

The Teamer Instinct

If you are a Teamer, you thrive on connection and collaboration. You understand that no one person or department can succeed alone, and you’re naturally focused on how to bring people together. Teamers are skilled at creating harmony, fostering communication, and making sure everyone is aligned toward a common goal.

You likely see yourself as a facilitator—someone who builds bridges across departments, encourages collaboration, and keeps the team moving in sync. You understand the value of relationships and are constantly thinking about how to make them stronger. Your role in any organization is vital because you ensure that the different parts of the business are working together efficiently, leveraging collective strength to achieve success.

But in environments where competition or individualism is emphasized over collaboration, you might feel undervalued or stifled. You’re at your best when you’re cultivating a culture of trust, connection, and shared purpose.

Business Instincts and the Stages of Growth

As businesses grow, they evolve through stages that reflect the same instincts seen in nature. At the earliest stages, businesses rely heavily on Hunters. The start of any venture is about chasing new opportunities, breaking into markets, and taking bold risks to secure resources and carve out a space in the marketplace. Hunters play a pivotal role here—they’re the driving force behind getting a business off the ground.

Once the initial opportunities are captured, businesses begin to rely more on Farmers. The focus shifts from expansion to sustainability. At this stage, systems need to be put in place, operations must be fine-tuned, and the company needs to establish a foundation for long-term success. Farmers are crucial during this phase, ensuring that the rapid gains made by Hunters are developed into something that lasts.

As a company matures, Teamers become more important. With growth comes complexity, and the need for collaboration across teams and departments increases. Teamers ensure that the business doesn’t become fragmented as it expands. They build the connections and foster the communication necessary for the organization to operate as a cohesive whole. Without Teamers, the efforts of Hunters and Farmers could become disjointed, leading to inefficiencies and misalignment.

Business Instincts at the Company Level

While every business goes through these stages of growth, problems arise when the instincts needed at a given stage or on a particular project are either overrepresented or underappreciated. For instance, if your company is filled with Hunters but lacks Farmers, you might experience bursts of innovation and quick wins, but struggle to sustain them. Opportunities may slip through the cracks without the systems in place to cultivate them. On the other hand, if your company is dominated by Farmers without enough Hunters, you might maintain stability but miss out on growth because you’re not pursuing enough new opportunities.

Similarly, without enough Teamers, collaboration can break down. Hunters may be running in one direction, and Farmers in another, with little communication between them. This can lead to inefficiency and misalignment, as departments or teams work in silos rather than together.

The cost of not understanding these instincts can be high. Companies may find themselves stalling out, missing opportunities, or facing internal friction. Hunters may grow frustrated if they feel stifled by too many processes. Farmers may feel overwhelmed if they’re asked to maintain growth without enough structure in place. Teamers may become disillusioned if they see a lack of collaboration and communication.

However, when businesses recognize these instincts and allow people to operate in their strengths, the company thrives. Hunters drive the business forward, Farmers ensure that growth is sustainable, and Teamers create a culture of connection and collaboration that ties everything together.

Finding Yourself in the Framework

Understanding whether you’re a Hunter, Farmer, or Teamer helps you better see where you naturally excel and how you can make your greatest impact. It also allows you to recognize the strengths of others, helping you to foster a more collaborative, effective work environment.

Whatever instinct drives you, it’s an essential part of the larger ecosystem.

In business, as in nature, every instinct has its role. And when these instincts are understood and nurtured, they become the driving force behind the organization’s success. By tapping into the natural strengths of Hunters, Farmers, and Teamers, businesses can create an environment where innovation, sustainability, and collaboration come together to create lasting growth.

What Now? Next Steps:

Find out your HFT (Hunter, Farmer, Teamer) Stack with our Free Assessment HERE.

If this would help your team Set up a 15-MIN CALL HERE to book the 3-hour Team Training.

If you are a Massachusetts Based Company, this program is approved by the State's Work Force Training Fund and small businesses get this training reimbursed by the state. 

PS: The Hunters, Farmers, and Teamers BOOK will be out later this year! Does reading this give you an idea for a catchy book title? If so email it to [email protected]