Turning with the wind: Navigating a year of change and growth

Originally published on www.tribalimpact.com

Recently, I watched a program about unusual hotels of the world. This episode focused on Cley Windmill in the UK, where it showed how guests sleep surrounded by the mechanical workings of the early 19th century mill. It showed how the mill could rotate the top of it's structure, turning the vanes/sails to face the changing wind direction.

Maybe I’ve been hidden under a rock for years, but I had no idea that traditional mills had the ability rotate their sails much like modern day wind turbines!

As Tribal celebrates its 9th birthday, I've reflected on the last twelve months and ‘change’ is the word that constantly comes to mind.

Feeling it, driving it and most importantly adapting to it.

Time For Change

Recognising that we had fallen into a cycle of treading water, in September 2023 we welcomed the support of an external consultant.

The brief? Help us shift from growth to scale.

Help us change. And we did.

In fact we've implemented more change in the last 12 months than Tribal has witnessed in the previous nine years.

• We continued to re-structure our organisation, embedding processes to refine how we work internally and better predict the financial health of our business moving forward.
• We’ve welcomed new team members who chose to join our adventure and bid farewell to others as they continue their own.
• Our curious customers continued to co-innovate with us, enabling us to use our data-led expertise to demonstrate how social advocacy can drive better business performance.
• We revisited our purpose and values to better understand who we are and what we stand for, recognising that Tribal 2.0 has evolved its identity.
• Finally, we broadened our reach into new industries (Pharmaceutical Manufacturing, Staffing and Recruiting and Non-profit organisations), increasing our work with Employer Branding and Talent teams around the world.

It can be said, with certainty, that this past year has been transformational – for both the organisation and for me, personally.   

Leading Through Change

Change often brings uncertainty. It’s unknown, risky and unsettling. The unpredictability of not knowing what’s ahead can even be scary.

As an entrepreneur, survival is dependent on adapting and pivoting. Learning to get comfortable with change and realising the opportunity that comes with it.

Then the business grows. As a small team, decisions are made quickly and as a collective - teams scramble if/when needed. There’s a ‘family feel’ and the pace is fast.

As the organisation grows yet again (we're now 25 employees + several contractors), we need to adapt again. Building communication frameworks to cascade information, creating development plans to support personal growth and building a strong leadership team.

A couple of resources have really helped me grow during this period.

First, the "Why change is so scary" TED Talk from Maya Shankar .

The stand-out quote for me:

“When an unexpected change happens to us, it can also inspire lasting change within us”.

Change doesn't have to be scary. It has the potential to create opportunity and when we change our perspective on how we deal with change (not always easy) it can be quite liberating.

Second, the book "Leadership Mindset 2.0" by R. Michael Anderson . Noticing that my leadership style reflects the relationship I have with myself. Recognising when to lean in and when to lean out. Finally, realising that the team can operate just as well, if not better, when I'm out of the way.

That last point has been the most eye-opening for me and it all started, not surprisingly, with another book!

Embracing Change 

Last year, whilst at the gym, I worked my way through a book called “All In” by Mike Michalowicz .   Part way through the Audible version, the author instructed readers to pause the book, fast-forward 12 months in our calendar and block a solid four weeks out of office.

Dutifully, I followed the instruction.

Did I believe it would happen? Not a chance.

Nervously, I announced my month-long ambition to our leadership team a couple of months ago. I didn't need to worry. I wrote this article during that four-week block I booked out a 12 months ago.

Yep, it happened.

The team more than survived. They thrived without me meddling every day.

Roles defined, processes in place and brilliant people who lean into their expertise.

So, perhaps the biggest personal achievement I’ve experienced over this last year, is learning to embrace change once again. Re-discovering the confidence to be bold, think big and embrace the unknown.  

Adapting Our Sails

As the Greek philosopher Heraclitus said,

“The only constant in life is change”

As we move into our tenth year at Tribal, we’ll continue to adjust our sails to where the wind approaches us. I’ve written enough anniversary blogs to know I won’t make predictions or promises for the year ahead.

Unexpected curveballs (or squalls to keep the wind analogy going) come from all directions when you least expect them. That said, I continue to look forward to our future with confidence.

Over the next twelve months, you'll see an evolution in our messaging and our brand as we lean back into our consulting roots. As we continue to invest in product development and AI, we'll bring more data and insights to our content and conversations with clients.

Our tribe has never been stronger. I'm so proud of their agility and adaptiveness.

I’m surrounded by a team who care deeply about each other and our future.   

#TeamTribal – you have been and continue to be incredible. Thank you.

Andy Norman , thank you for supporting and guiding us this last year. We couldn’t have done it without you and I will always appreciate your mentorship and experience.