#11: John King on Tribal Leadership, Zappos, and Merit Based Hierarchies

Summary

In today's episode, Eric Schleien sits down with interview guest and organizational culture expert John King. They talk about the systems and culture in workplaces, the types of personalities and communities, and his experience of teaching leadership to a generation of exceptional young leaders in Central Eurasia.

In this episode, John highlights former Tony Hsieh's sociability and genius that contributed to the whole legacy of Zappos. In Tony's lifetime, he was recognized for the impact that the company made on the community and the tribe he cultivated within their work environment. As an expert, John prizes Tony's ability to drive people to want to be around through acknowledgment and care – something visibly lacking in most brick and mortar companies that hang on to authority to found hierarchy and work system.

As you listen further, tune in to Eric and John's discussion about tolerance and appreciation towards varying points of view and how the whole cancel and soundbite culture plays in with everyone's roles on a government and individual level. For John, If you book somebody and want to hear what they want to say but have to get it in 20 or 30 minutes, it's just all going to be soundbites. It's going to be personality-driven. What is then taken out of that 20 minutes will make the case that one is this and one is that and everything else controversial.

 

About John King

John is in demand as a keynote speaker and is nationally recognized as a senior teacher, coach, and program leader. Clients of John's coaching practice have been featured on all major television networks and in The Wall Street Journal.

John is part of the leadership development team at Sierra Health Foundation and is on faculty at Collier's University, CB Richard Ellis University, and The California Leadership Institute. John is also a frequent guest lecturer in the Marshall School of Business and the School of Public Policy, Planning, and Development at USC.

 

Show Notes

• [01:42] Tony Hsieh was a genius!
• [03:26] The surprise that is Zappos.
• [08:52] Tony Hsieh's sociability and its impact on the community.
• [12:08] On John's upcoming book.
• [14:20] A 6-week course tribal leadership program through Zoom.
• [21:05] Brick and mortar companies hang on to a hierarchical system based on authority.
• [23:04] Being labeled as a racist is a situation for all sides.
• [29:40] "Just move… No progress will happen where there is no action."
• [33:55] Stage 2 communities occur even at country levels.
• [41:06] On the 1st amendment, POVs, and cancel culture.
• [43:09] In America – the appreciation and tolerance for POVs that aren't yours.
• [51:48] A Stage 2 that is trying to be a Stage 3.
• [57:56] Life is not black and white; the soundbite culture.
• [01:00:05] On long-form conversations and what is taken out of soundbites.

 

Resources

• One Million Acts Of Innovation
• Transformational Leadership Associates (The Tribal Leadership Course)
• John's LinkedIn
• Buy Tribal Leadership on Amazon
• The Hero with a Thousand Faces Book by Joseph Campbell, buy on Amazon

About Eric Schleien

Over the past decade, Eric has trained thousands of individuals, including board members of public companies as we