What's Your Tribe?

The Recruitment Underground ^ | 11/19/09 | James Seetoo

[JMS]

Do you lead one? Do you have one? It's a pretty good question these days since there's a lot of talk about Tribes going around. And it seems to be an evolving situation but an interesting one since it's apparent that it's becoming a very powerful cultural phenomenon. I would say that it's probably because of the increased connectivity we all have allows us access to people who have the same views and values. For more on Tribes, I would recommend Seth Godin's book, oddly enough titled: Tribes.

I had the priviledge of attending the recent PGC200 (www.pgc200.org) launch event in San Diego CA. It's a group that I'm advising that is creating a tribe. It's primarily made up of technical professionals (scientists and engineers) who are banding together to support one another professionally during trying economic times. The featured speaker at this event was Gary Ridge, President and CEO of WD40 who has recently published a book with Ken Blanchard called Helping People Win at Work.

What's exciting to watch about the development of PGC200 is that it's a welcoming place for people who are not usually used to doing things like marketing themselves to interact with others who are good at that type of thing. And it was only fitting that Gary Ridge was the featured speaker because he has actively worked to develop the Tribe culture at WD40.

In the book, Gary and Ken Blanchard describe a tribe as being a place where someone belongs as opposed to a team which is something someone plays on sometimes.

That's an interesting definition and I think it's highly effective when looking at a company's culture during your job search. Is it a place where you "belong" or someplace you go to play eight hours a day?

Gary and Ken also define leadership as a partnership which I think is a great definition. In this partnership, are you helping someone to be successful and is someone helping you? In this way, you can be a leader without a title and those you help become members of your tribe just as you become members of the tribe of those who help you.

LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter are good places to find examples of Tribes. People become followers and friends on these sites based on common interests which can be as simple as a joke of the day.

Like her or not, I think one of the most interesting examples of the Tribe phenomenon is Sarah Palin. My take on her resigning the governorship of Alaska is that she is leading a tribe of followers, drawing people who are disaffected with their political parties and are looking for a place to belong. We'll see if that translates into political office but it's certainly translated into book sales.

Tribes seem to be popping up all over the place, so maybe it's time to start yours. If you're in a company, help others to be successful and they will become part of your tribe. If your looking for a job, let your tribe help you. If you don't have a tribe, start one by going beyond networking to really create a place where people feel they belong in your circle. As Jay Abraham defines it, it's the difference between a client and a customer. A client is someone whose interests you watch out for rather than being in a transactional relationship.

So let me know what you think of this Tribes phenomenon. I'm interested and hopefully you're following this blog regularly. It's kind of like having a Tribe of my own.

Remember, your skills are your job security.

[5thGenTexan]

I thought this was about Palin’s tribe (remember Chrissy's comment?).

[Frenchtown Dan]

I’m from the tribe of pissed off Americans who want liberals out of our lives.

[Nervous Tick]

>> the Tribe culture at WD40.

ROFL! The WD-40 tribe!

At least it’s not the Vaseline tribe! Could you imagine going to a cocktail party and sharing with other new acquaintences that you’re an active member of the Vaseline tribe?

I’m not laughing at the concept, mind you. In fact, I think I’ll buy the book.

[JMS]

In a real sense, Freepers are a tribe since it’s a place where we belong and support each other. And yes, we’re a pissed off tribe who can’t wait to throw the bums out.

[Conservative4Ever]

Ahhh yes....the WD-40 tribe....brother to the Duct Tape Tribe.

[JMS]

I think Palin is really showing that a tribe goes far beyond political parties and she’s leading a tribe that’s been pretty well leaderless since Reagan.

[mdk1960]

Freepers.

We got that name from the terrifying noise we make that causes our natural enemies the Libtards to cry, wet themselves and run off.

I practise on unsuspecting hippies.

[Dick Bachert]

OBOWzo is from the WHODAFUGAWE tribe of Kenya.

A little known fact is that Barack Obama is a descendent of Kenyan royalty. In Arabic, his first name means "Destroyer of nations." Obama means "He who will forever rule the underworld -- not just in Chicago, the REAL one down there."

He is seen here in native Kenyan garb in a rare shot recently discovered in a White House burn bag that somehow escaped the newly installed White House diesel powered, water-cooled Acme 3000 Super Shredder. It was sent to us by a former White House shredder tender (who wished to remain anonymous -- and hasn't been heard from for over 2 months!).

And if you are offended by this photo, TOO BAD! Obama is, after all, a disciple of Saul Alinsky who advised his friends in Obama's favorite book, "Rules for Radicals" (subtitled "Dirty Tricks by The Left are Just Good Politics"), that RIDICULE is a potent and effective weapon.

There ya' go!!

[Frenchtown Dan]

Don’t mean to be harsh, but the word “tribe” does sound kind of primitive.

But, it may just come to that when we are all broke, have no jobs, no future.

Yes, I can see us becoming a tribe in the very real sense of the word.

[Frenchtown Dan]

“the WHODAFUGAWE tribe of Kenya”

Too funny, but probably true.

[2nd Bn, 11th Mar]

Best essay on tribes is Bill Whittle’s from ejectejecteject.com.

[JMS]

It’s an interesting perspective but really not what I was getting at. Seth Godin’s book on Tribes and leadership is probably a better case study. Thanks for the lead on Bill Whittle.

[manic4organic]

Excellent. I read Whittle’s “Tribes” only recently.