Tribal Leadership

By Charles Schuler


Leaders set direction. Leaders change the way we think. Leaders change the world. Today's discussion is about three leaders and the way they changed (are changing) the world. These leaders are quite different from one another. But they share a common thread that has made their leadership journeys truly special.

Besides having impressive resumes, what do these 3 leaders have in common? They built tribes. Tribes are groups of people united with a common vision. They challenge the status quo and how people think. Tribes change the world. Seth Godin, author of the best-selling book Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us offers this definition: "A tribe is any group of people, large or small, who are connected to one another, a leader, and an idea." Jesus, Coach K, and Jimmy Buffett connected people to a vision. They built tribes.

Besides having impressive resumes, what do these 3 leaders have in common? They built tribes. Tribes are groups of people united under a common goal. They challenge authority and how people think. Tribes change the world. Seth Godin, author of the best-selling book Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us offers this definition: "A tribe is any group of people, large or small, who are connected to one another, a leader, and an idea." Jesus, Coach K, and Jimmy Buffett connected people to a goal. They built tribes.

Jesus is the founding father of Christianity, a religion practiced by more than 2.2 billion people today. Every Sunday, people congregate in churches around the world to worship and spread the message he preached over 2000 years ago. Jesus built his tribe one by one, from Galilee to Jerusalem, preaching to anyone who would listen. He challenged authority and spread hope throughout the land. He gave people something to believe in, gave them faith, and as a result built the biggest tribe in history.

Coach K has a tribe too. While not quite as big as Jesus', it is pretty sizeable nonetheless. In a college sports era marred by recruiting scandals and lacking an emphasis on education, Coach K built a basketball program based on fundamentals and sound principles. Although many of his players went on to have successful careers in the NBA, he coached 19 seasons before a player left school early to pursue a professional basketball career. 19 seasons! His dedication to excellence has garnered him many awardsand a tribe! Duke University named the floor in their basketball arena "Coach K Court" in his honor. The grassy area outside of the arena is titled "Krzyzewskiville." Duke also named the brand new basketball practice facility after him: "Michael W. Krzyzewski Center - Dedicated to Academic and Athletic Excellence." His tribe members include the Cameron Crazies (members of the student body who organize cheers at the games), former players and staff members, and the alumni and fans of Duke Basketball. Nine of his former players and assistant coaches became head coaches at other schools. Three former players now work for him as assistants at Duke. His program has produced more leaders than any other college sports program.

Jimmy Buffett united his tribe under the concept of "island escapism." He created "Margaritaville," a place for his listeners to escape the hardships of everyday life. His tribe, "the Parrotheads," comes together at his live performances to indulge in and celebrate the island lifestyle. Typical attire for a Parrothead includes a Hawaiian shirt, "board shorts", and flip-flops for men or a grass skirt and coconut bra for ladies. Buffett built his tribe through his catchy tunes and magnetic personality. His idea has helped him sell over 20 million albums, sell out concert venues, and form the Parrothead tribe.

Best of luck on your leadership journey. You will do awesome.




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