When Leadership is for the Birds


Miami -

Spring is near in New England. It’s almost time to dive back into the Merlin Bird ID app. It’s already summer here in South Florida, however, replete with the sights and sounds of birds.


Let’s take the starling, for example, which is actually a large family of bird types. I’ve heard that the simple, drab-brown starling actually sees the world in a large spectrum of vivid colors. Birds typically have four color receptors to our three and see light well beyond the human spectrum.


So don’t make assumptions about the apparently simple, brown starlings on your team. If you as leader see them that way, this may be your problem and your loss. They may actually be operating in technicolor and brimming with useful contributions. You may never know it, however, if you don’t give them the chance to chirp and take flight. 

Image courtesy of GardenBird.