Your Tribe Defines Your Survival—Build a Warrior Team for Any Crisis
Fabiana vividly remembers the day two colleagues from a US drug company were kidnapped while traveling in Latin America. As authorities and family scrambled, it wasn’t the company’s headquarters or policies that saved the day—it was the people who’d trained together, trusted one another, and made quick, gutsy decisions under fire. The ordeal hammered home a lesson she already suspected: in crisis, you don’t want just any team. You want a tribe that’s loyal, thinks actively, asks the uncomfortable questions, and has your back when things collapse.
After that episode, Fabiana started building her own “would I want to be kidnapped with them?” roster. She evaluated not by titles but by reaction under stress, courage to step up, honesty, and the willingness to train and prepare for the unexpected. Her circle became smaller but fiercely bonded. Over the years, this tribe met for safety trainings, debriefed after fieldwork, and took time to learn each other’s limits and strengths.
Psychological safety and high resilience, research shows, are not just about individual grit—it’s about social support and cross-training in high-pressure situations. Teams with shared rituals, preparation, mutual respect, and diverse skills outperform others not only in emergencies but also in driving long-term innovation and trust.
Write down those five people you trust most under pressure—think beyond titles or status. List what makes each special, then reach out to connect, share prep plans, or troubleshoot a scenario together this month. Invest in skills, rituals, or trainings as a tribe, and be honest when the group needs to change. The result is a network that won’t just survive crisis—it will thrive and open new possibilities for everyone involved.
What You'll Achieve
You’ll experience deep confidence and calm in unstable situations, as well as faster, more creative problem-solving when surrounded by a proven, values-aligned tribe.
Curate Your 'I’d Be Kidnapped With Them' List
Identify five people you rely on under pressure.
List friends, colleagues, or family who keep their cool, act with integrity, and respond well in emergencies.
Reflect on shared values and skills.
Note what attributes (courage, loyalty, clear thinking) make them trustworthy, and what skills each brings to a survival or high-stress situation.
Start preparing and training together.
Regularly share challenging scenarios, debrief responses, or attend a security or skills-based workshop as a unit.
Evaluate and update your team.
Periodically reassess who’s on this list; add or replace members as your life and values evolve.
Reflection Questions
- Who do you instinctively turn to when life goes sideways—and why?
- What critical skills or attitudes are missing from your support network?
- How often do you openly discuss risk prep and tough scenarios with your tribe?
- How might your workplace or family team benefit from becoming more intentional about survival mindset training?
Personalization Tips
- At work, intentionally build cross-functional project teams with people who’ve proven they deliver under pressure.
- For personal safety or travel, make sure family members know mutual plans and emergency contacts.
- In sports or creative collaborations, choose partners who inspire trust, dedication, and resilience.
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