Forming
2. PATTERN
Examples Accumulate
Attention, example, and habit pull leadership into focus while the group is still finding direction.
What the leader does—especially under pressure—quickly sets what others treat as acceptable.
Having trouble playing the video? Open it on YouTube.
Context
A leader reacts to a mistake, competing pressures, or unclear ground in a shared setting.
Problem
People need to know what counts as OK. Clear rules are missing or thin.
Forces
- People watch others when things are unclear
- What people see moves faster than written rules
- Early reactions set what feels allowed
- Silence and emphasis both send a signal
Observation
What the leader does—especially under pressure—quickly sets what others treat as acceptable.
“Careful what we model in the room; examples accumulate faster than anything we post on the wiki.”
Effect
Norms form fast. No vote is needed. They shape how truth, error, and risk get handled.
Resulting context
Behavior settles into habit. People read the next situation through the example already set.
Related patterns
All patterns1.
Where people look first when nobody has named the next move yet
Attention Finds a Focus
Attention settles on one person. Others start lining up their behavior with that person’s actions, tone, or timing.
Read full pattern
4.
Whether uncomfortable news can surface before it becomes expensive
Dissent is Welcomed
Problems show up early. Reality reaches those who decide in time.
Read full pattern