Igniting the Invisible Tribe

Designing an Organization That Doesn't Suck

By: Josh Allan Dykstra

Narrated by: Jim Seybert

Why is it that so many of us toil away in jobs we hate, being treated like machines, doing things that will eventually ruin the planet? Is this really the best we can do with our work and our lives? Concluding a massive research project spanning the fields of behavioral economics, future trend analysis, and management science, Josh Allan Dykstra elegantly shows how the world of work is evolving - and that the competitive advantage of business is shifting towards something much more life-giving than where we've been.

©2012 Josh Allan Dykstra (P)2017 Josh Allan Dykstra

Great Narrator

Quality narration is the cornerstone of a great audio book. Love Jim Seybert! I will be looking for more by him, regardless of the genre.

Proven new views on old-school business practices

The world is changing fast and many of our traditions and practices, from politics to business, are outdated, bogged down by the era they were created in. Like every country’s laws, they change slowly, forever trying to catch up with new technologies and societal expectations.

Josh Allan Dykstra’s fascinating exploration of this idea looks at the issue from a business perspective, attempting to “find new answers to old questions” to design an organisation that doesn't “suck”.

The first question, of course, is to ask what he means by an organisation that sucks. He reports that a 2011 investigation by Deloitte found that 79% of people employed by a company in the USA are not passionate about what they do. To fix this, companies focus on the individuals, offering training, mentoring, feedback mechanisms and the like. These are all valuable strategies, which should not be discounted, but they’re born from an era where those at the top of the power pyramid have all the knowledge and power.

In today’s society, information, education, entertainment and networking are at the fingertips of every employee. The power has shifted and, according to Dykstra, the old hierarchical structure no longer works. People are connected and forming “tribes” with like-minded individuals around the world. Every collective develops their own norms and “culture eats strategy for breakfast”. As such, organisations need to move beyond just focusing on the individual. They need to revise their hierarchical structures and accept that culture is the new key to productivity. Companies need to be connected, human and meaningful, catering to the tribe mentality where people come together for a common purpose, not just to make a buck. The proof of this is in the transient nature of today’s workforce. Once upon a time, people took on a job for life. Today, people move on until they find a work environment that they can connect with and find personal value in, yet our corporate structures still reflect the job-for-life’ era.

Jim Seybert has a voice that instils confidence. He did so in “Winning Habitudes: 99 Habits and Attitudes of Leaders, Visionaries and Achievers, by Leonard Mark” and he does so again here. He’s a superb narrator for self-help and non-fiction titles, providing a clear, encouraging and enthusiastic voice in what can sometimes be a very dry arena. He makes serious topics interesting and adds a level of enthusiasm and motivation that may not be present from a printed edition. He’s one more narrator in my limited pool of trustworthy sources where I would now listen to an audiobook solely based on his involvement.

The ultimate aim of Igniting the Invisible Tribe is to end workplace misery by focussing on culture and structure; considering “we” instead of “me”. In our decentralised world, people opt in to tribes that they relate to, so they can connect with like-minded individuals. Most businesses are yet to tap into that motivation. Likewise, most self-help books focus on self alone (thoughts, motivation, etc), but Dykstra tells us that that is just one side of the coin. The tribes formed by people coming together for a common cause, and the invisible rules that dictate how that tribe should behave, are the flip side that can make or break a team.

Dykstra offers a fresh take on an age-old business dilemma, with Seybert’s narration offering authenticity to his ideas. If you enjoy self-help and other non-fiction books, check out my reviews and article on my audiobook site at SaidNotRead dot wordpress dot com. To date, I’ve reviewed one other audiobook narrated by Jim Seybert that’s worth listening to, with many notable audiobooks too.

High Praise for reader Jim Seybert!

As an avid audible user, i've discovered one key to my engagement with and learning from a book is the reader. The reader either understands the content and adjusts the delivery to it -- or simply reads and unknowingly misses the authors intent, or worse, distracts from it! Jim Seybert obviously understands the content before reading. I'm drawn in by his style and forget that he is not the author. I feel like he's taking the time to speak directly to me -- as in a conversation. This makes all the difference!

The future of business - timeless advice

The advice given in not only timely but it's timeless. It's 2018, but this advice will probably serve anyone reading it for the next 10 years easily.

Written in plain, no-BS English, author Josh Allan Dykstra paints the sad but honest picture of today's business landscape. Bored, dispassionate workers who don't give a furry rat's fanny about what they do or why they do it.

Ultimately, he asks the question, What will you do differently? in order to spark the beginning of change. because without awareness of the problem, change cannot occur. Kind of like the alcoholic who finally admits he has a problem, once we as a nation, or we as a business, admit we have a problem, we can start to fix it.

A great business book that's worth a listen, probably more than once.

Narrator Jim Seybert is clear and authoritative as always, and a joy to listen to. Highly recommended if you think you might have a problem in your business and you're looking for direction in how to fix it. I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A Foundation for Motivation

Would you listen to Igniting the Invisible Tribe again? Why?

Yes, I would listen to Igniting the Invisible Tribe again. This is a short audiobook that is packed with a lot of helpful knowledge and insight. While I took many notes, there was still much more to unfold.

What about Jim Seybert’s performance did you like?

I really enjoyed Jim Seybert's voice. He is now one of my favorite narrators. I really appreciated his matter-of-fact tone and enunciation helped me take notes on important key points.

Any additional comments?

This Audiobook says it best, “In a world when you can listen to anyone, who will you listen to? ONLY interesting people!” What an accurate statement in today’s world. There are so many self-help and motivation books out there, but this audiobook breaks down how “work” has changed and how you can benefit from those changes. Namely by using the internet to build a tribe or find a tribe that already exists to help you with your goals.

I highly suggest this book to anyone who wants to start their own business or better develop their position in their own business.

Clear perspective and useful ideas

If you could sum up Igniting the Invisible Tribe in three words, what would they be?

Inciteful, clear perspective.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No because I wanted to consider the ideas provided in application to my own work style. Then I would return to learn more in a subsequent listen. The book provides a current, realistic view of work teams and environments.

Any additional comments?

The narration was very well done! I appreciated the easy cadence with emphasis placed appropriately on certain words or phrases. I give high marks when my mind no longer notices the narration but becomes lost in the story or ideas!