Team or Tribe? The Discussion Itself Points to the Challenge
One doesn’t have to dig very deep these days to come across sound bites of wisdom on leadership and teamwork from SEALs. That’s hardly surprising. Few are better placed in terms of experience in being the best at what they do – high-performance individuals operating in high-functioning teams under high-stress circumstances – which translates into valuable advice along with an ability to present it well.
One article from one of their members sometime in the last couple of years has struck me profoundly – enough that, though I neither remember it fully nor can find it to hand as I write this, the essence of it resonates still.
The gist of it was an encouragement to move beyond the use of the word “team” and instead use “tribe”; describing the ways in which tribe better embodied the characteristics of a group dedicated to and trusting in one another in working towards a common purpose. It was inspiringly spot on; but for the ironic fact that the author – whose organization epitomizes the concept of Team (I mean, it’s in their name, right?) – is having to evoke the concept of the word… by using another word.
That’s messed up; if not so surprising, when you think about it. Team and teamwork and team player have become such common buzzwords, we expect them on a resume, but barely acknowledge them. Like all intangibles, we don’t really discuss them; because they no longer really have any meaning.
Teamwork is culture. It is where management hands over to leadership, and solid individuals mutually respect, trust and rely on one another, which is key to both working effectively and loving it. If you find the article in question before I do, the message is as it has always been – in the qualities listed. Give it a read, but don’t get caught up in whatever word you want to sum it up with. Team or tribe, make sure it applies.
From the Outbox, April 2018