DREAM TEAMS Are A Force Of Nature
06.11.2024 I Rachel Robert Mattox
Experts both inside and outside WE ARE THE BOARD have written extensively about the operational efficiency and financial advantages of hiring fractional talent. The fractional economy offers greater creativity, productivity and efficiency within a structure that’s optimized for agility and affordability. This is a dynamic that conventional organizational structures often fail to achieve.
But, I would suggest that the fractional framework is more than a post-pandemic paradigm shift; it’s a much-needed course-correction that realigns us with the very laws of nature.
Intrigued?
Let’s consider how the fractional economy mirrors the innate intelligence seen in murmurations.
You’ve likely witnessed this phenomenon. In a dazzling display of nature’s intelligence, starlings flock together in the sky, forming a whirling yet coordinated dance, splitting apart and fusing together, soaring up and zooming down, choreographed by instinct alone.
Unlike the V-formation we regularly see take shape in the sky, murmurations offer no aerodynamic benefit. So, why do these birds put on such a show? Turns out, it’s not merely spectacle, it’s also survival.
Murmurations are an invitation to other starlings to join their roost, providing warmth, shared information, and protection from predators. Researcher George F. Young described this synchronized aerobatic display as "a remarkable ability to maintain cohesion as a group in highly uncertain environments and with limited, noisy information,"(Young, Scardovi, Cavagna, Giardina, & Leonard, 2013).
With a shared sense of trust, starlings maneuver intuitively and gracefully, as if with one mind. Their ability to manage uncertainty, sense change, and pivot swiftly while maintaining connection and consensus is their secret to survival.
Look deep into nature and then you will understand everything better. ~Albert Einstein
So, what can we understand about leadership by observing murmurations?
360º Perspective
One of the greatest advantages of a murmuration is its 360º perspective. Each starling contributes to a network of eyes and ears, allowing the flock to detect threats and opportunities from all directions simultaneously. By seeing the bigger picture from all angles, the collective can respond swiftly and cohesively to changes in their environment.
Distributed Leadership
In a murmuration, leadership is distributed and inclusive, requiring constant omni-directional communication. The birds move in unison, each instinctively aware of the others. With ample room to maneuver, they stay close without colliding. There’s a strategy behind this “group think”: Research shows that each bird monitors seven neighbors, adjusting their flight pattern accordingly to prevent chaos.
The prompt for a new direction can come from any starling at any time, making each bird both a leader and a follower. This system relies on inherent trust, respect, and accountability to each other, ensuring cohesion and adaptability.
Move Faster, Together
When these birds of a feather flock together, they become a dynamic unified force that moves faster, creates more magic, and provides support to each other on the journey. They are safer, swifter, and more strategic together than when they fly solo.
DREAM TEAMS capture the magic of murmurations
WE ARE THE BOARD is a community of fractional executives across beauty, fashion, tech and retail. We curate DREAM TEAMS to support clients across a broad range of functions and disciplines. By matching the skill to the need, we're able to deliver what most consultancies and traditional agencies cannot:
We swoop in and take flight quickly and harmoniously. We merge with our clients’ current flock to support the collective and make magic happen.
Because of our collective perspective, we help clients mitigate risk from potential “threats” and assess their situation holistically, with a bird’s eye view.
Our collaborative approach improves problem-solving and inspires innovative thinking, empowering the team to thrive in dynamic conditions.
And speaking of dynamic conditions, we’re skilled at managing uncertainty and navigating through “noisy” situations. In fact, it’s our collective superpower.
Our individual strengths complement - but never “collide” - with our colleagues’.
We operate interdependently, synergistically, and with coordinated effort to deliver results.
Our laser-sharp instincts and shared sense of trust enables us to pivot quickly without losing speed or control.
We align behind one unified vision with clarity of purpose so that we move faster, and go further, together.
As a former agency owner and in-house marketing executive, I have deep experience working on the brand side and the agency side, as a leader and as a member of the team, on strategy and execution, bringing pre-revenue brands to market, and helping thriving brands scale. Like my colleagues at THE BOARD, including April Uchitel , Jean Batthany , Jené Roestorf , Maggie Spicer , Adrienne Arieff , David Boxser , Jennifer Millspaugh, PhD , David De Nino , Scott Woodward , Karly Hand , Caroline Rothwell Gerstein , Libby Gray , Steve Tate , Jeanne Meyer , Sharon Osen , Lara Schmoisman , Katie Irving , Amber Williams, Kathryn Beaton and so many more, I’ve been there and done that. And the most profound lesson I've learned follows the laws of nature: the secret to survival is found in the company we keep.
* WE ARE THE BOARD is a curated team of fractional executives in beauty, fashion, technology, and retail. To learn more, visit THE BOARD or book OFFICE HOURS with me!
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