What an Ancient Tribe taught me about Leadership | Tehsin Takim | TEDxUpanga Youth

On a crisp January morning, a group ventured to Lake Eyasi to learn from the Hadzabe tribe, hunter-gatherers whose way of life has remained unchanged for over 10,000 years. Upon arriving at their unassuming village of grass huts, the Hadzabe were already at work, stringing bows and sharpening arrows. The speaker, initially questioning what this ancient tribe could teach modern humans about leadership, soon discovered profound lessons. The first lesson observed during the hunt was the Hadzabe's intense focus. Every sense was engaged, a stark contrast to the distracted outsiders with their phones and thoughts of lunch. This highlighted the principle: "Where awareness goes, energy flows." In any industry, distractions lead to lost trust, time, and deliverables. Trying to communicate or teach someone who is distracted is largely unsuccessful. For the Hadzabe, their efficiency demanded complete attention, with their laser-sharp awareness directing all their energy towards the hunt. As the hunt progressed, the Hadzabe walked in a single file before splitting up, some going left, some right, and others straight ahead solo. They moved with a rhythm, splitting and regrouping, demonstrating autonomy alongside complete alignment towards their common goal: a successful hunt. This mirrored how businesses operate with different departments—sales, operations, finance—all working towards shared objectives like customer delight, sustainability, or profitability. The Hadzabe allowed individuality and for members to play to their strengths while still pursuing the collective aim, offering a valuable lesson in leadership styles. The third lesson was clarity. There was no confusion among the Hadzabe; everyone knew their role and what was expected. There were no elaborate presentations or micromanagement. This emphasized the importance of understanding the "why" behind tasks, not just the "how." When teams comprehend the purpose, they can adapt intelligently without needing constant instructions, leading to greater effectiveness. Once the hunt began, momentum became crucial. While the visitors lagged, gasping for breath, the Hadzabe hunters never stopped, navigating thorn bushes, jumping rocks, and crossing muddy riverbeds. They maintained the necessary pace for a successful mission, demonstrating that while empathy is important, it cannot come at the expense of completing the objective. Leaders must set and maintain a pace that ensures high standards are met. Finally, at the end of the hunt, the catch was modest—a few birds instead of the hoped-for antelope or baboon, likely due to the presence of the visitors. Despite this, the village celebrated with laughter and smiles. They celebrated the small wins, not just the big ones, fueling their resilience. This recognition of achievement was vital because they knew they would soon have to go out again. The speaker admitted this was the leadership trait they personally struggled with the most, questioning whether modern society celebrates obligations (like showing up on time) or actual achievements (like successfully completing a task). The Hadzabe celebrated the results—the food brought back to the village—recognizing those who contributed to the community's survival. These five leadership elements—focus, alignment, clarity, momentum, and celebration—are not abstract ideas but lived realities for the Hadzabe, whose survival depends on their daily application. The fascinating similarity between "Bush leadership" and "boardroom leadership" highlights their universal applicability. Leaders in any context must ensure focus amidst distractions, foster alignment while allowing individuality, provide clarity on the "why," maintain appropriate momentum, and fuel resilience through celebrating small wins. Leadership is built on trust, not titles, and these traits help build that trust between leaders and their teams. Everyone is a leader in some capacity, whether obvious or subtle. The challenge is to choose one of these Hadzabe leadership lessons and incorporate it into one's life and leadership journey, recognizing that leadership is about daily choices and actions.