I don’t know why but the older I get, the closer I feel to nature and all it has to teach us. Maybe that is God’s way of preparing you for death, who knows……anyways….
One phenomenon I’ve always been fascinated with is starlings in murmuration. You know, those massive flocks of birds that move like liquid across the sky, twisting and turning in perfect synchronization? It’s honestly mesmerizing. Thousands of birds flowing together as one giant, shape-shifting cloud without anyone crashing into each other or getting lost. (if you don’t know what I’m talking about, check out this video)
Of course, I had to know how they do this and why. Turns out, scientists have been studying this for decades, and what they discovered blew my mind. It also made me think about how this relates to business and leadership because certainly they can’t accomplish this without a leader – or can they?
No CEO Starling
Not to get all Ms. Wizard on you, here’s just one thing they found that is fascinating. Each starling in the flock pays attention to exactly seven neighbors. Not six, not eight. Seven. That’s it. They ignore everything else happening in the massive flock and focus solely on those seven birds around them. Yet somehow, this simple rule allows thousands of birds to move as one cohesive unit, changing direction instantly without any central leader giving commands.
Think about that for a second. No CEO starling up front calling the shots. No management hierarchy. Just individual birds making smart decisions based on trusted information from their inner circle.
Picking your Seven
Most leaders I know are drowning in information. They’re getting input from direct reports, board members, industry peers, consultants, and anyone else with an opinion about their business. But here’s the thing – processing all that noise isn’t the same as having quality intelligence.
The starlings aren’t ignoring information because they’re lazy. They’re being strategic about where they get their cues. That CFO who’s been through three economic downturns? That’s one of your seven. The operations manager who sees problems before they hit your desk? Another one. Your former boss who still takes your calls? Maybe that’s your third.
But the starlings have figured out something we haven’t. You can’t effectively process information from everyone. You need your seven.
Who are your seven? Not your direct reports, necessarily. Not the people who tell you what you want to hear. I’m talking about the seven people whose judgment you trust completely. The ones who will tell you when you’re about to make a mistake. The mix of perspectives that helps you see around corners.
Evolving your Seven
The beauty of the starling system is that it’s not about hierarchy. A bird’s seven neighbors change constantly as the flock moves. Similarly, your seven shouldn’t be static. They should evolve based on the challenges you’re facing, the decisions you’re making, the direction your organization is heading.
Maybe it’s your CFO when you’re dealing with budget constraints. Your head of operations when you’re scaling. That mentor who’s been through three restructurings. The peer from another company who sees your blind spots. The team member who understands your customers better than anyone.
The key is being secure enough to surround yourself with people who are smarter than you in specific areas. The starlings don’t compete with their neighbors for who gets to lead the murmuration. They just focus on staying connected and responding to what they see.
Tune Out the Noise
What makes this work isn’t just strategic thinking, it’s emotional intelligence. The starlings can “maintain cohesion as a group in highly uncertain environments and with limited, noisy information.” Sound familiar? That’s basically the job description for any leader in today’s environment.
You need to be listening constantly. Processing feedback quickly. Communicating changes effectively. Trusting your network while staying adaptable. It’s not about having all the answers; it’s about being connected to the right information sources and responding intelligently.
Your Murmuration Moment
The next time you’re facing a complex decision, don’t try to analyze input from your entire organization initially. Identify your seven. Get their perspectives. Listen to what they’re seeing that you might be missing. Then move decisively, knowing that your flock can adapt as conditions change.
Because here’s what the starlings understand that we often forget: in uncertain environments, the ability to move together quickly is more valuable than having the perfect plan. Sometimes the most sophisticated leadership strategy is simply knowing who to follow and when to lead.
Ok, quick revision: Maybe He’s not preparing us for death, but trying to illustrate lessons among some of the masterful accomplishments in nature. Thanks, starlings.