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Leadership
Are You Leading a Mob or a Movement?
Effective leadership strategies to lead a movement, not a mob.
Posted August 9, 2021 Reviewed by Devon Frye
You are enjoying a cup of coffee in the park on a beautiful sunny day. Suddenly you hear music playing, and a young person starts singing and dancing. Slowly more and more people join in. Soon there is choreographed singing and dancing. At the end of the song, the performers disband and melt into the crowd.
We have experienced, seen videos, or read about flash mobs. Heck, there is even a company that will organize flash mobs to mark birthdays, wedding proposals, anniversaries, and other special occasions. However, calling this type of gathering a flash "mob" is doing it an injustice. This group of people gathers and performs for the harmless entertainment and benefit of others. Their goal is clear, and they have a sense of direction.
The Difference Between a Mob and a Movement
A group of people can be classified as either a mob or a movement.
A flash mob is a group of people who assemble suddenly in one place, perform an unusual and seemingly pointless act together for a few minutes. On the other hand, a movement is an organized social action that calls attention to some political or societal problem and works towards changing laws or policies. A movement has clear long-term goals shared by members and the constant motivation to achieve them. Mobs have no common goal other than immediate action, often destruction and violence.
The leadership demands of each group are very different. Mobs must be emotionally riled up in the moment. A movement must be inspired to work towards common goals. Mob leaders often use fear tactics to incite action because they work in the short term. Movements require strategies.
While mobs mobilize quickly and disperse rapidly, movements have a vision for the future, a goal for change, and educate others on that practical knowledge. Movements are also inclusive, while mobs typically exclude specific people or groups of society. Movements focus on changing mindsets—often leading to social reforms—last longer, and require time and resources. Mobs are usually fueled by anger, not united by any particular goal, and disperse after the anger dissipates. Remember the mob that chased after Dr. Frankenstein's monster, eager to find him and kill him?
Here is a handy checklist to help you identify between a mob and movement:
Mob Leaders vs. Movement Leaders
Just as there are two types of groups, there are two types of leaders. It's important to know which you are.
To help you tell whether you're leading a mob or movement, ask close friends or acquaintances for their opinion and consider the following questions: If your goal is solely to tear down someone's ideas, you will most likely lead a mob rather than a movement. If your group wants to change society for the better, ask yourself two questions: "What am I trying to accomplish?" and "Am I working towards this goal for the betterment of others?" If you are not clear, you're most likely leading a mob.
Mob leaders are often in it for personal interest; movement leader's goals are those of the group. A mob leader encourages people to do maximum damage. A movement leader marshals people towards positive change.
Leaders of mobs fuel people with rage and discontent. They are more reactive than proactive, capitalize on spontaneity rather than develop skills and networks necessary for success, and build coalitions that will support them when they achieve their long-term goals. Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Mother Theresa led movements to end British rule in India, advance equal rights for all, and dignify all individuals, respectively.
Leading Effectively
In many ways, leading a mob is the opposite of leading a movement. Typically, a mob leader can provoke emotions to elicit a response that drives people to a single action. Moving a mob requires sensing what people are feeling and quickly formulating an action plan. Leaders of movements focus on changing mindsets to ensure lasting reform. They need skills of persuasion, negotiation, and communication with diverse audiences, as well as strong analytical abilities to identify causes of problems and develop solutions.
If you're leading a movement, you find ways to broaden the scope of what's being done by including others willing to share resources and ideas. You need to create an inclusive culture that supports the larger vision for the change the movement seeks to bring about. You build on shared values.
Lacking a sense of direction, those leading a mob typically find ways to create solidarity through an emotional connection with their group. Not every member of the mob feels they can contribute.
For leaders of movements, it's essential for members of their group to feel not just that they are part of the shared vision but have opportunities to contribute, rather than just receive orders. A movement requires nuanced leadership strategies as well as a call to action. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have A Dream" speech was informative, persuasive, and inspirational.
The distinctions will help reveal whether your group is simply following along for the sake of joining something larger (mob) rather than bringing about sustainable change in service to others.
