Today I have the privilege of leading day 6 of the Tribes group blogging project. Today’s discussion covers pages 26-30.
Leading from the Bottom
Seth tells the story of how he was tasked with creating several video games by an impossible Christmas deadline with a paltry 3 engineers assigned to him. A key part of his solution was to start a newsletter, distributed to everyone in the company that “chronicled the work of [his] tribe. The newsletter connected the tribe members. It turned a disparate group of career engineers into a working community.”
Others in the company were so inspired, that they joined the movement, volunteering their time to the project. Through their motivation and hard work they met the deadline and exceeded all expectations.
With the team having grown to Seth and 29 engineers, I imagine they must have had one geeked out party to celebrate. (Being an engineer, I’m allowed to make geek jokes.)
I don’t know how anyone could read that story and not be inspired.
Badgering and Begging
If you lead anything, then you are asking people to do things. My experience is that 90% of the time (and yes I just pulled that number out thin air) when a person asks someone to do something, they are either demanding obedience…
“Sue, I need that report from you by end of business today or things are going to get very uncomfortable around here.”
“Bill, when you signed up to lead a teen small group, you committed to being here every Sunday.”
or asking for a favor…
“Biff, I know you’ve got a lot on your plate, but it would be huge if you could replace the skittlebit in the fimflam. Could you take care of that for me?”
“Alice, hey, we really need someone who would change poopy diapers for a bunch of screaming infants while everyone else is enjoying the service. Could you help us out with that?”
Ever say anything like this?
I know I have. (Except for the last one. My wife has the much envied title of “Chief Poopy Diaper Changer Recruiter” at our church)
I really dislike asking people to do things because it often feels like badgering or begging. And nobody enjoys that.
Calling People to a Movement
I think it happens when we forget the greater goal (or don’t have one).
For those of us who lead people in a company, our job is not to make a product or provide a service. Our real job is to lead a movement to better people’s lives through the products or services our companies create whether that’s cars or corn or cleaning services. Instead of badgering or begging, we should be passionately calling the people we lead to be a part that movement.
We should be saying things like, “Our company is making a real difference by building the best, most affordable cars in the world. Sue, your report on the latest safety tests is crucial to our making great cars, can you have that for us by the end of the day?”
For those of us who are Christians and lead in our churches, our job is not to fill volunteer slots or fulfill our ministry responsibilities. Our mission is to invite people to join us in a movement where God is transforming lives. We should never be badgering people into serving out of a sense of obligation. We should never feel like we are asking someone to do us a favor by serving. We are offering people the opportunity to be a part of the greatest cause in human history!
We should be saying things like, “Bill, God is doing amazing things in our teens these days! Kids who were far from God are coming to faith in Christ. Kids who were acting out in destructive ways are serving others. Kids who were lonely, depressed, and unloved are experiencing God’s love and Christian community. I know there are million things you could be doing on a Sunday night, but you won’t find anything more meaningful than leading a small group of these teens to know God and live their lives as an expression of love for Him.”
Vision Leaks
Deep down, you and your tribe may know your company is about better lives or your church is about transforming lives, but the truth is it’s easy to forget. We get so caught up in the day to day tasks and turmoil they draw our attention away from the grand vision of the movement.
As Bill Hybels says, “Vision Leaks.”
That is, over time that clear picture of where the movement is headed becomes fuzzy and faded.
To counter that, we need to constantly repaint the picture. We need to retell the story of why we’re doing what we’re doing. This is why communication is so critical to the success of a tribe.
But not just any communication will do.
Most companies have newsletters. Most churches have programs or bulletins. But most companies and churches are not movements. That’s in part because most organizations are so busy communicating “what” that they forget to communicate “why.”
Stories Fuel the Cycle of Success
In addition to that, we need to communicate that we’re going in the right direction and progress is being made. This is best done by telling the stories along the journey.
Momentum is created through cycles of success: progress is made => the story is told => the story inspires => more progress is made.
But if you don’t tell the stories, you kill the cycle. You kill momentum. You kill the movement. You kill the tribe.
The great thing is it’s sooooo easy to tell stories. People love to tell their stories. People love to hear others tell their stories.
Food for thought:
- Do you tend to badger, beg, or call people to your movement?
- How well are you doing at telling the story of your movement – describing what sparked it and painting a clear picture of the change you’re trying to bring about?
- How are you doing when it comes to communicating the stories along the journey or giving your tribe the opportunities to tell their stories?
Wow, Paul, so much to think about!
Asking a favor – Have you ever had someone ask a favor, but you really feel like it’s a demand? If you don’t obey the “favor” you have somehow missed a prophetic ministry call. Even Paul’s examples, such as “Could you take care of that for me?” are sneaky orders to be obeyed. I know — I’ve done it, as a wife, mom, and leader.
Greater goal – I think many Christian ministries, especially churches, have forgotten the greater goal – Go! As Christians our goal is to proclaim God’s love to the world through Christ. We must Go to do that. Instead, we sit in our pews or folding chairs and talk about bringing in. The early church didn’t gather just to worship; it gathered to prepare to Go. We can’t “lead someone to Christ” by sitting amongst ourselves and talking about how to “bring the people in.” We must Go to the masses. The greater goal is not Sunday morning service or Sunday evening youth group — the goal is taking Christ’s message to the world.
I stopped to ponder two things while reading this morning.
1. Element three of a movement – “Something to do – the fewer limits, the better.” (pg 27) Godin says this may be the only thing organizations do. Really? I’m learning far too many organizations, whether a church, business, or family, have something to do with a 12-step way of doing it. Has “organization” come to mean “we have something to do and this is the way to do it?”
2. “Everything I did was for us, not for me.” (pg 30). We say we are doing something for the greater good, for others, for the organization. When in fact we are looking out for ourselves. “How can I move up?” “How can I profit?” “If I make this crowd a tribe I can be top dog.” (Look at this as a confession.) Taking Godin’s philosophy removes the them vs. me way of thinking. In spite of the platitudes thrown around our society, very little is really done for the “us.”
OT – I’ve never had the spiritual gift of poopey diaper changing for a room full of wailing infants. (God gave me unusual grace to manage for my children.) So, will people please quit asking me? Somehow there’s an assumption that the grannies of the congregation have “graduated” to this post so “moms can relax for worship.” That’s a tribe I’m not part of.
i try to call… but not always works out the way i think it should or intends…
but, that’s what’s learning for!
there are definitely some massive areas of improvement, from my perspective.
opening a forum (perhaps) is one way that i’m taking that next step…!
I’ve read Tribes, I read Seth – but the way you put it together made it click.
I work with a Christian non-profit as a consultant, that has had vision leak. Was mulling the idea of starting a blog/wiki/forum to allow everyone to contribute about how they are advancing the vision, exciting a movement – changing the world.
Your post help clarify some formative thinking. Terrific work. Thanks
Susan, thanks for your comments. I think a lot of what you said points to a big reason movements get derailed – often for the leader it becomes more about them than about the movement. How many companies and churches have gone down because the leader began manipulating, or embezzling, or making decisions to maintain power rather than for the good of the movement? Too many.
John, calling is an area where I need a lot of improvement too.
Chris, wow, that’s really cool. I’m glad you found the post helpful. Sounds like some sort of interactive online communication would help.
One of the interesting dilemmas I think tribe leaders have now is how tightly to control the message.
In the story Seth tells, he distributed a written newsletter. In that case it sounds like he decided what went into it and wrote it. He completely controlled the message.
With a blog, the leader still controls the topic and starts the conversation. Tribe members can respond and contribute to the conversation, but even the then the tribe leader can moderate the comments how he/she sees fit.
With forums, any tribe member can start a conversation on any topic. The tribe leader (or a group of leaders) can moderate the forums, but there is the potential for people to post all sorts of stuff the leader doesn’t like.
A lot of business and church leaders are scared to death of blogs, forums, etc because they are afraid of losing control of the conversation.
Hmmm, these are good questions that I can ask of myself and how I attempt to build and gather my tribe about me.
For instance I tend to ‘beg’ and ‘plead’ people to join where I should be calling people to join me on my journey.
That will be my motivation from now on. If you want to join me then cool, actually very cool.
And I love the idea of story telling as a way of going on this journey.
great post
great thoughts
you have challenged me
word
Phill
Great post Paul!
I have to admit I have used all three of these tactics. Badgering, just created resentment or undisclosed turmoil from tribe member to tribe member. Begging, seemed to (like some of the aforementioned comments talked about) lessen the value of the vision we were trying to cast. Honestly this has been the first time I have ever worked for a place that challenges me to calling people to a movement.
I have to admit I am not familiar with that language, so I find myself falling back into the previous two ways of communication, 1. because it’s easier 2. because I don’t have to be as passionate (i.e. not as much for me to risk too) about the vision myself.
Talk about a gut check. I need to get on my knees after hearing this, especially your last paragraph on “Calling people to a movement.” wow!
Finally, I think Im pretty good at telling stories, but I need to help inspire my leaders to tell their story in this mix. Because each one of my small group leaders is really a tribe leader too. Hopefully we can tighten up the vision leak!!!
Awesome post Paul! You brought these pages to life. Lots of good things to ponder here . . .
So I am going to play devil advocate here. What do you think that the other managers in Seth’s division thought? Do you think there were other project that were good and maybe more important to the bottom line that were slowed down because Seth was going outside the system to get things done. I have no issue with his motivation. I think his motivation is great. I have issues with his use of resources.
Thanks for all the great comments. What I would love to hear now is stories of what happened when you put these principles into action…
– What happened when you made a conscious effort to call someone to your movement rather than badger or beg?
– What happened when you re-communicated the vision for your movement to the tribe?
– What happened when you told a story from along the journey?
Adam, great questions. I would love to hear Seth’s answers to them. My thoughts…
– He mentions people were volunteering their time and sleeping in the office. It sounds more like they were giving above and beyond their regular time to the project.
– If I’m a leader of leaders, I need to put my best, most passionate leaders on the projects that are most important to my organization.
– Everyone who leads a tribe is essentially competing for resources. Each person has a limited amount of time, energy, and money. Whether you lead a church, a business, a PTA, or a fantasy football league you are trying to inspire your tribe to put time, energy, and money into your movement instead of another movement.
– Our tendency is to think the best idea should should “win.” But often it’s the most most passionate tribe leader and the most passionate tribe that “wins.”
– A lot of people think they have the best idea, and when it doesn’t “win” they complain and blame. Instead, they should become a more passionate tribe leader and tell people why their idea (movement) is so important.
– This is a huge problem within the Christian church. We complain that people choose to golf, or go to the beach, or sleep in rather than worship God on a Sunday morning. We should be grieving the fact that are so ineffective at communicating with passion the love of God and promise of reconciliation, freedom, and new life in Christ.
Wow, Paul. Great stuff. We all need to re communicate the vision more often. New blood to an organization makes it real easy for the overall vision to get fuzzy.
Calling folks instead of badgering… makes me think of all the times my wife spends on the the phone trying to get volunteers for nursery. I know that she feels beat up after going through the normal list of faithful. She feels like she’s begging/badgering… Guess I need to step up and CALL some folks.