Cults and Caucuses
How to build in a toxic system
I'd start with this fact. It is the nature of humans to build pods and circles of influence everywhere they are to suit their personality, extend their influence, or back up their agenda. It is high time you stop getting worried about it.
I've been around for a bit and I've seen a few. In school, in church, at work, in the neighborhood. On the street everywhere humans are. Some of them are mild and easy to penetrate, while others have fierce discs of human cover that are difficult to break into.
Most caucuses inhibit growth because they create division within a vision. They distract the purpose of organizations because they are mostly self-serving. Most caucuses are not inclusive establishments, they are separatist and cause segregation, particularly within organizations that are building a culture of comradeship and camaraderie. They make integration difficult and turn new members away!
While some are just units of people who understand each other and roll together. Others have cult tendencies. The physical attributes may include, wearing the same outfit, attending the same event, having the same opinion, sharing a common enemy, etc. Most people have built caucuses without knowing it. You might be in one right now.
One of the best ways to know whether what you are in is a caucus or a cult is to ask if your unit segregates. If the requirement to join your party is tilted, biased, or skewed and ultimately if your pod is an extension of your organization’s value system or not. If not, you know the answer.
To be clear, your clubs or friendship units are not caucuses. Caucuses are units inside units. Companies inside a company and church inside the church. You get the idea. You have a right to start your independent unit but you don't have a right to create a destructive strain of association within an existing association that goes against the bigger one. That's what I call a caucus in this context. Now let's go to why you shouldn't be bothered.
When the voice of a caucus is loud within an organization, this dominance substitutes the culture of that organization. It sabotages the efforts of the leadership to build inclusiveness. How do I know? People have left their organizations because of the symbiotic proboscis of danger caucuses. They've left the church and their associations because of these guys.
Danger caucuses are builders' nightmares. They destroy cultures and circumvent vision. If you are a builder or founder you have to be extra careful. If you are a member this is what you should do.
When these guys start building their pods. That is the time to intensify building too. The power they have to attract saboteurs is the power you have to attract builders. Don't discuss them. This will suck your morale and demotivate you. Build inclusive units that will support the growth of your organization. Be the unit that fosters love and extends the culture to other members.
I've seen this too often. Destroyers have unbelievable tenacity while builders leave their sites because they cannot stand the assault and immorality of saboteurs. Don't lose what is good because of what is bad. A builder is a fighter. Fight for the soul of your organization. Fight very dirty!
The people who do not join you to build are not the reason why you don't have a structure standing. It's the willing people you deny the opportunity to build with you because you think they are small. Building is not a game of numbers. It's a game of effort and consistency.
As a leader, I draw my strength from the few people who stand by me(even if it is one person) they often deliver more than a multitude. It might look like the other guys are gaining ground. But we will gain hearts and building lives. I have used this everywhere I have led with tremendous results. You cannot help the good by destroying the bad. Sometimes, the weed and the plant grow together!
Let me know if this helps.
Have a great week and breakthrough from within
©Abiola Iyiola, 2024
Principal, AI Leadership Consult
