Helping people at home and at work, to get along, and get ahead.

Tribal Leadership by Dave Logan, John King, and Halee Fischer Wright (c. 2008 by Harper Collins. 297 pages).

Leveraging Natural Groups to Build a Thriving Organization

1. We Tribe2. Tribes have Leaders3. Tribes mature from stage-to-stage4. Leaders mature from stage-to-stage5. Higher stages function better6. Language and the structure of

relationships mark the difference

Stage 5: Life is WonderfulStage 4: We’re great (and they’re

not)Stage 3: I’m great (and you’re not)Stage 2: My life sucksStage 1: Life sucks

STAGE SAMPLING OF WORDS USED IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO ONE ANOTHER

Stage Four: We, our, team, do, them, have, did it, commit, value

Stage Three: I, me, my, job, did, do, have, went

Stage Two: Boss, life, try, can’t give up, quit, sucks

Stage One: Life, sucks, f------, break, can’t, cut, whatever

5 Stages of Tribal GrowthSTAGE MOOD THEME PERCENT

= %

5 Innocent Wonderment

“Life is Great!” 2 %

4 Tribal Pride “We’re Great (and they aren’t)”

22 %

3 Lone Warrior “I’m great (and you’re not)”

49 %

2 ApatheticVictim

“My life sucks” 25 %

1 Despairing Hostility

“Life sucks” 2 %

Sees a better life, and wants it.

She can do something to get it.

Builds on strengths and competencies Has a mentor or coach Creates dyads Tastes the thrill of victory Reads self-help books Becomes an expert

In over her head, Needs partnerships to succeed, Her complaining makes her one of “them,” The work and competition lacks meaning, The costs of competing are too high, And role models for Stage 4 can be seen.

Triads are formed, So that BIGGER projects can be done, That require the collective intelligence of the team, To accomplish a noble purpose, That brings great value.

“Life is great” language replaces “We’re great” language.

Work is effortless.

People will thrive when partnering on larger projects.

Flow states are common.

Noble cause and values.

1. Your relationships are dyadic.2. You hoard information.3. You prevent your friends from connecting

with your other friends.4. You rely on favored spies and gossip for

political information.5. You might use military or mafia language.6. You eat up tips, tools, and techniques that

improve you.7. You talk about “my values” and “my

principles.”

Now, “I’m great” language is heard.

“I” and “me” language is more common.

He will compare himself to his colleagues, saying disparaging things about them.

Awards will be won and hung on the wall.

“Triads Lead to a blurring of roles between client, service provider,

friend, mentor, and coach. Once the triad is established, all the roles

merge and morph, requiring each person to contribute to, and receive contributions from, the other two.”

Page 204 of Tribal Leadership

Break the illusion of “I’m great” by receiving some really direct feedback from peers and subordinates.

Instead of being the best “lone warrior,” target being the “best partner” you can be.

Instead of being best in class, make the class the best.

Find a more mature mentor.

Have one or more epiphanies.

All this work has no legacy.

“I see the enemy, and he is me.”

More of the same fails to satisfy.

The wins at Stage Three lack significance.

“I see I’ve been a manipulator, not a leader.”

“The object of my affection, has been my own reflection.”

A search for more begins with wonderment.

Lots of nurturing is given and received. Boundaries are permeable and flexible (not

closed and rigid). Meetings are with triads, or more. Leaders take the blame, and share the

successes. There are appropriate rules, or principles,

and a sheriff/adult that monitors alignment. Often, job titles are not listed on business

cards.

Ask, “What triads, if built, will fix this problem?”

Ask, “What triads will help us spot and fix problems so big we can’t even think of them?”

Build networks of relationships with intent, putting experts together so the synergy is real.

Ask, “We are doing this in service of what?”

“We” language replaces “I” language.

Triads grow networks exponentially.

Get more done while working less.

Complaints about not having enough time, and the incompetence of others decrease.

More information will be shared more often.

Results will increase about 30 percent.

Life is Great at Stage 5. Nonprofits have an advantage in gathering around a noble cause. Ask the Stage 4 tribe, “What would propel us to Stage 5?” Build around global and resonant values. “Those who will be truly happy will be those who sought and found how to serve others.” (p. 250 of Tribal Leadership)

The one who has matured to Stage 4, and has occasional experiences into Stage 5.

The one who intentionally, and artfully, moves people and tribes from one stage, to the next.

The one who is known to work for the good of the tribe, and is rewarded with loyalty, innovation, hard work, and collaboration.

“Simply put, the future of business is Stage 5 – either frequent leaps into it from Stage 4 or breaking new

ground by finding stability at this level.”

Page 251 in Tribal Leadership

Let us all, together, like a bunch of

Musketeers, move up… Up… UP… to the next highest

level!