From Me to We to Us: The Journey to Collective Leadership
Aug 15, 2025
In many organizations, the journey from “me” to “we” feels like a challenge, and “us” can seem like an even greater leap. But in The ABCs of Murmuration, Dr. Kathy Hagler and Robin Graham offer a framework inspired by nature’s most elegant displays of cooperation: the synchronized flight of starlings.
A murmuration is a coordinated movement of hundreds or thousands of birds, each adjusting its path in real time based on the subtle actions of its nearest neighbors. There is no single leader directing the flight. Instead, leadership is distributed, trust is implicit, and the whole is far greater than the sum of its parts.
The authors show that this natural phenomenon mirrors what can happen in organizations when we intentionally move through three stages:
- Me: The individual contributor, self-aware and adaptable. Each person knows their strengths and limitations, and they take responsibility for their role.
- We: The team, bound by mutual respect and trust. Members collaborate, communicate openly, and balance autonomy with accountability.
- Us: The larger community or organization, aligned by shared purpose, values, and vision. Decisions are made with the collective in mind, not just individual gain.
This progression is not about losing your identity. In fact, much like each starling retains its own place within the flock, your individuality remains vital. But your contributions are harmonized with those of others to create something extraordinary.
To foster this kind of transformation, leaders can:
- Build trust intentionally, starting with small, consistent actions.
- Encourage stepping up when leadership is needed, and stepping back when it’s time to support others.
- Reinforce a shared mission that transcends departmental or personal priorities.
When we move from “me” to “we” to “us,” our organizations gain agility, creativity, and resilience. We create the conditions for “organizational murmuration,” where teams move together with fluid coordination toward common goals.
So ask yourself: Where is your team today on this spectrum? And what steps can you take to help them evolve toward “us”?
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