Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us

by: Seth Godin

It was the size of the book that first attracted me – it’s small, only 150 pages and better still, written by Seth Godin, the author of ten best-selling business books.  This small and mighty book, Tribes – We need You to Lead Us – packs a big and important message – the world needs leaders and “if you think leadership is only for other people, you’re wrong.”  “We need you to lead us” challenges Godin.

What’s a tribe?  Godin describes it as a group of people, large or small, who are connected to one another, a leader and an idea. The Internet has eliminated the barriers of geography, cost and time but,  observes Godin, the Web can’t provide leadership. That still has to come from people who have a passion about something and want to make a difference.

We are all looking for something to believe in, to belong to and tribes bring people together,  sharing a belief in an idea and in a community.  And in an ideal world, they are grounded in respect and admiration for the leader and the other members as well.

Yet, observes Godin, so many people are stuck.  Stuck in the “factory” his definition of a world full of rules, with predictable outcomes and where change is to be feared. It is fear that also holds us back from assuming a leadership role, but Godin argues that leadership isn’t difficult, but we’ve been trained for years to avoid it. “I want to help you realize that you already have all the skills you need to make a huge difference.”

He then provides examples of ordinary people who have chosen to lead a tribe and the impact they have had.  It was interesting to read the story of Jacqueline Novogratz who founded the Acumen Fund, an organization that provides microfinancing to women in developing countries. Jacqueline is also the author of The Blue Sweater and if you want to learn more about microfinancing – this book makes a great and inspiring read.

But I digress.  Godin is determined to prod the reader into action. He believes that fear of failure is overrated and that what we are really afraid of is being blamed, criticized. However, challenging the status quo requires commitment. “It involves reaching out to others and putting your ideas on the line.

He points out that there isn’t just one right technique, proven tactic, a right way and a wrong way to lead. What he has observed is that effective leaders connect and inspire, they don’t manage.

If your day goes by without challenges, then you’re not leading, he counters. He figures that few people are willing to go through the discomfort required to lead, but if you’re not uncomfortable in your work as a leader, you’re also not reaching your potential as a leader.

It is also our lack of faith that holds us back.  Faith that we can do it; faith that it’s worth doing and faith that failure won’t destroy us.  Yet, he firmly believes that all it takes is one person to make change.


His blunt and honest comments cause you to think and reflect about your leadership or lack thereof.  And many of his observations hit home  – such as great leaders don’t try to please everyone. They don’t water down their message in order to make the tribe bigger, instead they realize that a motivated, connected tribe is more powerful that a larger group could ever be.

But he claims the secret of leadership is simple. “Do what you believe in. Paint a picture of the future. Go there. People will follow.”

This thought-provoking gem forces you to take a different look at leadership, and you finish asking yourself “what can I do?”  

Posted in: Leadership