Leadership lessons from the Sasquatch Music Festival.

By Amber Hudson

We’ve been on a bit of a hiatus this month while Luke is on vacation.  But I did come across a great video that just had to be shared because yes, even a man dancing offers marketing lessons.

Click here to see the full video.

Here’s a summary of the lessons for your brand as you think about how to disrupt in your category:

(Adapted from Derek Sivers TED talk)

  • A leader needs the guts to stand alone and risk looking ridiculous
  • The leader must embrace the first follower as equal – it’s not about the leader anymore, it’s about “them”
  • It takes guts to be a first follower, you stand out and brave ridicule, yourself
  • The first follower transforms a lone nut into a leader
  • The 2nd follower is a turning point: it’s proof the first has done well.  Three is a crowd and a crowd is news.  This is the momentum to start a movement.
  • A movement must be public. Make sure outsiders see more than just the leader. Everyone needs to see the followers, because new followers emulate followers – not the leader.

But wait a second, here’s an interesting perspective… at the end of the day it’s not about being the leader:

  • Being a leader is important, but it can be over-glorified.  It was the first follower that transformed a lone nut into a leader.
  • There is no movement without the first follower. When you find a lone nut doing something great, have the guts to be the first person to stand up and join in.

Tell us, do you agree with this perspective on leadership?