You can’t have a tribe with out a leader and you can’t be a leader without a tribe. When I think of a tribe images of nomads in loin clothes come to mind and a tribal leader with some kind of fancy headdress and gouty bone jewelry. I am not sure if that is the image that Seth Godin intended to conjure in the mind of his readers when he wrote Tribes but his concept of tribal leadership in some ways does take us back to the most primal roots.
Leadership is one of the most powerful ways to build trust and relationships. Most leaders in the church are those members who are committed to build relationships with the other people in the congregation. These people may not have a title but they host small groups in their home, plan community outreach events and most importantly they lead tribes. A tribe can be as small as three people or it can be made up of thousands of people, the size makes no difference. What makes a tribe is a common goal or vision for the future. Who is qualified to lead a tribe? You are!
I get caught up in writing about technology and tools to help you lead and engage your community but I often forget to write why you should lead. Leading a tribe is not about being the boss; it is not about being in charge, or having power. Leading a tribe is about unifying a community, facilitating the creation of a vision and passionately guiding them toward that vision. This is one of the most rewarding things that you have the opportunity to do in this life. Today there are all kinds of tribes all over the place. They no longer have physical boundaries or restrictions because of the Internet. Though I often tout the powers of digital communication and the efficiency at with it allows us to build and nurture relationships there is something that it can never replace. There is no replacement for a local community, a locally founded vision for the future, and a local body seeking that vision. Something special happens when we physically engage with one another. God designed us for community; God designed us for tribes.
Please let me know the tribes that you lead in the comment section.
