Chief Heart Officer | CEO/President @ OIP & OIP Robotics.
getty
Birds don’t need a leader, so why do humans need one? I read about how birds flock together recently, and it got me thinking.
Birds often symbolize freedom and power because of their independence and incredible ability to fly. Many species don’t even need to rest for a long time. The longest flight of a single bird is recorded as "at least 13,560 kilometers (8,435 miles)," with no single break, on a journey from Alaska to Australia.
Some birds actually sleep while flying, using half of their brain to navigate the sky. Our feathered friends are able to mimic humans, survive on every continent and migrate to other countries with no passports. How impressive is that?
Yet, they fly in flocks, because they are stronger together.
Birds Of A Flock
They form flocks for a few practical reasons—to defend themselves from the predators and wind, conserve energy and keep an eye on one another. Most birds flock when migrating, which characterizes change, a new mission and a team effort to overcome challenges together.
There are different shapes and formations they take, but I think the one many of us associate with migrating birds is the V-shaped flock. Naturally, there has to be one bird in front of the formation that directs the flight. All follower birds flap their wings in sync to maximize efficiency, but whichever bird is in lead takes the brunt of the wind and is the most vulnerable to predators.
Collaborative Leadership And Flock Behavior
We have so much to learn from these creatures beyond aerodynamics or the "Flying V" move from The Mighty Ducks.
Let’s look at this through the prism of leadership within an organization. The leader of the V congregation is constantly changing. There isn’t one senior or more experienced bird always at the front of the assembly.
The one who happens to be in front drives the movement of others, but multiple birds share the responsibility and take turns to be in front of the formation. That way, other birds take the lead role when the previous leader experiences fatigue or tiredness. Through collective efforts, they all reach their final destination.
Every bird is a leader and a follower. I believe it should be the same for business; leadership shouldn’t be a lonely job. When the role is distributed to others, each individual is encouraged and empowered to take the front seat and make decisions in the best interest of the organization.
Just like for birds in a flock, the leader is the strongest worker. But they should also be working smart, not just hard. If everyone sees where the group is going and are taking care of one another, group cohesion and harmony are accomplished while maintaining a psychological feeling of safety.
Shared Responsibilities
A leader is needed to guide, inspire and motivate the group. Their job is to rally the troops to move toward the same goal. But there doesn’t have to be just one leader.
Individual decision making can be faster and save resources, but that doesn’t mean it's always the right course, for it’s missing out on collaboration, brainstorming and shared experiences. A healthy organization can’t rely only on the decisions of a single person.
Through collaborative leadership, decisions are born through discussion, colored with creativity and have a longer application.
In a collaborative-friendly environment, there is independence but also interdependence. Members can rely on one another and give trust as they have mutual respect and shared responsibility.
They are willing to swap places and be both a leader and a follower. In collaborative leadership, team members are vulnerable, so trust needs to be at the highest level. Communication and synergy are the keys to successful collaboration between group members. Conflicts are good and encouraged as long as they are well-intended and productive.
I have personally practiced collaborative leadership for the past five or so years and have seen fantastic results. It helps people feel empowered, confident and responsible for the common good.
Collaborative leadership allows novel ideas to proliferate, often from people smarter than me. We can accomplish more when flying in sync together. For just like birds honk to communicate with one another, we are the only species of primates that have been given the gift of speech. Use that to establish clear communication and expectations.
Next time I look up at the sky and spot a flock of birds, I hope you'll think of the valuable lessons about leadership and collaboration they have to offer. Just like them, we are stronger together.
Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders. Do I qualify?
