Leadership and Making a Movement So ladies and gentlemen, at TED we talk a lot about leadership and how to make a movement So lets watch a movement happen, from start to finish, in under three minutes and dissect some lessons from it First of course you know, a leader needs the guts to stand out and be ridiculed But what he's doing is so easy to follow So, heres his first follower with a crucial role He's going to show everyone else how to follow Now, notice that the leader embraces him as an equal So, now it's not about the leader anymore; it's about them, plural Now, there he is calling to his friends Now, if you notice that the first follower is actually an underestimated form of leadership in It takes guts to stand out like that. The first follower is what transforms a lone nut into a leader
Leadership and Making a Movement So ladies and gentlemen, at TED we talk a lot about leadership and how to make a movement. So let's watch a movement happen, from start to finish, in under three minutes... ...and dissect some lessons from it. First of course you know, a leader needs the guts to stand out and be ridiculed. But what he's doing is so easy to follow. So, here's his first follower with a crucial role. He's going to show everyone else how to follow. Now, notice that the leader embraces him as an equal. So, now it's not about the leader anymore; it's about them, plural. Now, there he is calling to his friends. Now, if you notice that the first follower is actually an underestimated form of leadership in itself. It takes guts to stand out like that. The first follower is what transforms a lone nut into a leader
And here comes a second follower Now it's not a lone nut it's not two nuts three is a crowd and a crowd is news So, a movement must be pub It's important to show not just the leader, but the followers.. because you find that new followers emulate the followers, not the leader. Now, here come two more people and immediately after, three more people Now, we've got momentum This is the tipping point Now, we've got a movement So notice that as more people join in, it's less risky So, those that were sitting on the fence before now have no reason not to. They won't stand out, they wont be ridiculed but they will be part of the in-crowd if they hurry
And here comes a second follower. Now it's not a lone nut, it's not two nuts; three is a crowd and a crowd is news. So, a movement must be public. It's important to show not just the leader, but the followers... ...because you find that new followers emulate the followers, not the leader. Now, here come two more people and immediately after, three more people. Now, we've got momentum. This is the tipping point. Now, we've got a movement. So notice that as more people join in, it's less risky. So, those that were sitting on the fence before now have no reason not to. They won't stand out,... ...they won't be ridiculed... ...but they will be part of the in-crowd if they hurry
So over the next minute, you'll see all of those that prefer to stick with the crowd because eventually they would be ridiculed for not joining in ...and that's how you make a movement But let's recap some lessons from this So first, if you are the type like the shirtless dancing guy that is standing alone, remember the importance of nurturing your first few followers as equals so it's clearly about the movement, not you Okay, but we might have missed the real lesson here The biggest lesson if you noticed, did you catch it? Is that leadership is over-glorified that yes, it was the shirtless guy was first and he'll get all the credit. But it was really the first follower that transformed the lone nut into a leader So, as were told that we should all be leaders, that would be really ineffective If you really care about starting a movement
So over the next minute, you'll see all of those that prefer to stick with the crowd... ...because eventually they would be ridiculed for not joining in... ...and that's how you make a movement. But let's recap some lessons from this. So first, if you are the type like the shirtless dancing guy that is standing alone,... ...remember the importance of nurturing your first few followers as equals... ...so it's clearly about the movement, not you. Okay, but we might have missed the real lesson here. The biggest lesson if you noticed, did you catch it? Is that leadership is over - glorified... ...that yes, it was the shirtless guy was first and he'll get all the credit. But it was really the first follower that transformed the lone nut into a leader. So, as we're told that we should all be leaders, that would be really ineffective. If you really care about starting a movement
have the courage to follow and show others how to follow And when you find a lone nut doing something great, have the guts to be the first one to stand up and join in. And what a perfect place to do that, at TED
...have the courage to follow and show others how to follow. And when you find a lone nut doing something great,... ...have the guts to be the first one to stand up and join in. And what a perfect place to do that, at TED
