As the new year settles in, we find ourselves hopeful to lose weight, read more, learn new skills and reconsider our current circumstances – in relationships, with ourselves and with our work.
Seth Godin, author and leadership guru, defines a “Tribe” as “a group of people connected to one another, connected to a leader, and connected to an idea.”
We desire to belong, to be part of something greater than ourselves, to be connected to others. We search for people who inspire, challenge, encourage and rally around us. We find these people – our “Tribe” – in our family, friends and even co-workers.
With only 112 hours each week to do what we’d like – factoring in sleep and other “adulting” related tasks – we spend nearly 40 hours dedicated to our work. One-third of our time each week is spent with our work team. Our team influences, leads and teaches us. Do you love your team? Do you care about the mission of your work? Are you better for it? Is what you are doing worth 33.5% of your time each week?
If you answered no – It may be time to find your “Tribe!”
Here are Four Ways to Find Your Tribe:
1. Be Yourself!
It can be intimidating to meet new people, especially when searching for a new position. It is important to remember to just be YOU – be genuine, be authentic, be real. Brent’ Brown, social worker and author, describes authenticity as “the choice to show up and be real, the choice to be honest and the choice to let ourselves be seen.” Let people see the real you – wear the blue scarf that makes your eyes sparkle, laugh at a good (or bad) joke, tell the story about your grandma and share what makes you shine. As they say, be yourself; everyone else is taken!
2. Ask Questions.
You do not know everything and that is OK! It can be hard to ask questions when unsure of what to do or where to go next. Posing questions does not reflect weakness, but reflects humility, awareness and consideration. As Eric Schmidt, CEO of Google, says, “We run this company on questions, not answers.” He knows that when we ask questions, we grow in wisdom and make better decisions. Your Tribe will respect your desire to learn, grow and understand. Take time to ask good questions that provoke, inspire and encourage. In no time, your Tribe will want YOU to ask even more questions!
3. Serve Others.
Bob Burg, author of The Go Giver, reminds us that “influence is determined by how abundantly (we) place other people’s interests first.” When we are more concerned with serving and caring for others, our own needs are also fulfilled. Be on time. Pick up the trash. Offer grace. Share your snack. And remember to smile often! What goes around, comes around – and who wouldn’t want to be in the Tribe that serves others well?
4. Come Prepared.
When meeting someone new, do some homework! A quick website visit, an Instagram follow, or questions posed to community members might provide you with information about the mission and values of your soon-to-be Tribe. A little investigative work helps determine if this is the right Tribe for you. Do you share interests? Can you imagine yourself working there? Are you excited to learn more about the organization? Being prepared is not only washing your black pants and putting on lipstick, but also equipping yourself to try something new.
Ever thought about serving to give the next generation A Voice That Lasts Forever?
Our MTS “Tribe” would love to hear from you!
Send your resume to [email protected] to begin your application today!
