SmartTribes – How Teams Become Brilliant Together

This inspiring book by Christine Comaford mysteriously appeared on my bookshelf which is loosely arranged by topic.  I was looking for a different book when I spotted SmartTribes.  I did not recall purchasing or being gifted this book.  The cover graphic caught my attention which was clever.  I next wondered if the author was British. The word brilliant seems to be their version of awesome in conversation.  The mystery of where it came from, the graphic, and the word brilliant temporarily captured my full attention and I had to abort my other search and sit down to look into SmartTribes: How Teams Become Brilliant Together.   

I am so glad I did. It was very timely to read Ms. Comaford’s well researched and articulated perspective on building great teams.  Every chapter will provide you with a great ROI for your time. Even the Introduction.  I appreciate how Comaford took the opportunity to turn the Introduction into a succinct definition of a SmartTribe and she offers strong statistics regarding ROI on implementing the ideas in the book. I have found many books offer history in the introduction section, however, this short and powerful introduction section pulled me in. 

Some leaders of smaller businesses or organizations might shy away from this book as it uses mostly large company examples. Comaford identifies company’s first major expansion or “inflection point” at $5 million. This can be intimidating for startups who will benefit from these principals .  I can attest that principals of SmartTribes for businesses and organizations of all sizes. In my experience, early application and use of the SmartTribe Accelerators in this book can actually support future inflection points. I am currently leading a nonprofit organization through a critical “inflection point” with a budget of just over $100,000 and finding this book a great support as we move forward. 

Below I share some important ideas from SmartTribes that can support any rising leader today. 

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Inflection Points 

SmartTribes identifies that all businesses go through “inflection points”.  These periods are part of the natural growth of a business and require a re-invention of the company in order to stay healthy and grow. Comaford warns about inflection points… “you will need to intentionally map out a plan to get there, and then execute that plan with determination……The world is full of ‘living dead’ companies that reached an inflection point and couldn’t grow to the next one. You are either moving forward or moving back. Statis is not sustainable”.  

More Specifically, inflection points require a new approach in three main areas:  

• People – Team members skills are developed/improved/expanded to step into more responsibility, recruit new team members, restructure org chart. 

• Money – Revenue assessments required, Tracking developed/improved/expanded, and Accountability identified.  

• Models – Business must develop/improve/expand processes and strategic alliances/ strategic plan and succession plan 

Smart State vs. Critter State 

Successful companies operate in a Smart State as opposed to Critter State most of the time. Being in a Smart State allows for whole brain engagement which allows for better solutions and communication.  When we are in our Smart State we are engaging our whole brain and able to innovate and solve more complex problems.  When our Smart State is disrupted, the Critter State runs the show and we are run by fear which leads to our habitual safety patterns which can be recognized as fight/flight/freeze behaviors. Smart State is where we want to live and lead from for optimal results.  Comaford offers a description and pictures using the human hand to explain the parts of the brain.  This illustration of the concept originated from Dr. Daniel J. Siegel in the Whole Brain Child.  I demonstrate using my hand and explain this further via video on youtube here

SmartTribe Accelerators 

The book then leads us into the meat of the book, the  “5 SmartTribe Accelerators”, or practices, that support team members to operate in a Smart State.  Within each of the SmartTribe Accelerator chapters, Comaford offers a succinct overview of the importance and elements of each Accelerator.  Short term actions for immediate impact are offered as well as guidance for planning long term strategies. The 5 SmartTribe Accelerators are:  

• Focus  

• Clarity 

• Accountability 

• Influence 

• Sustainable Results   

Positive Target Fixation 

Successful leaders understand that once the decision to support change is made, new challenges arise around implementing the change.  Near the end of the book, Comaford introduces a helpful concept called “Positive Target Fixation”.  To illustrate she used an example of when she was learning to surf and near some jettys. Each time she caught a wave the surfing instructor said “watch out for the jetty” she would go right into it. With her experience in leading others and understanding of Positive Target Fixation, she asked if he could please say  “surf to the beach” instead. With that simple prompting, her mind and surfboard, went in the direction of the beach. 

Positive Target Fixation is a good approach to help you or your team.  By speaking and writing about what we want, we make it easier for others to move towards the target and also to recognize success when it appears.  

SmartTribes shares a new approach for modern leaders.  One that reinforces the way forward in business includes setting the culture, cultivating an atmosphere of psychological safety, and improving communication skills.  All of which are important with 10 employees or 10,000 employees.  Thank you Christine Comaford for SmartTribes.