How to find your tribe

When we start something new we usually come up with an idea, design how we are going to make it happen and then decide who might help us. This is like choosing the destination and then filling a bus full of people who have had no input on where they are going. Jim Collins in his book ‘Good to Great’ talks about how the great companies get the right people on the bus first and then figure out the destination. This might be done through pinpointing what skills could be needed and finding the people who have them.

How often do we use this concept of getting the right people on the bus before deciding where we are going? I would say it is the exception rather than the rule. In addition, I would suggest it isn’t that common that we consider whether the bus we are getting on is right for us.

Are we getting on the right bus?

It is a concept created by society that we have dream organisations to work for; either because we have a positive perception of their brand or we like a product they create. Often, though, when we get a job at that ‘dream’ organisation we are not satisfied in working there because our perception was not based on the whole picture. We think about the ‘what’ (the organisation) rather than the ‘who’ (the people). This can leave us feeling disappointed and re-evaluate working for what we thought was the dream company. You got on the wrong bus.

When instead we think about the ‘who’ we are choosing people who align with our purpose and our principles. It is easier…