Over the last few weeks, I’ve had many run-ins with swarming.  From research to getting things done – if you can get a group of people to work like an ant nest – wow… what can be accomplished?

The power of the swarm.  It’s hard to see what one ant can do.  But together ants can do some marvelous things.

The birthday problem.  In a line of 23 people, there is a 50% chance two people will share the same birthday.  With 57 people, there is a 99% chance at least two people will share the same birthday.  This is important because we share more than just birthdays. We also share opinions and ideas.

But we don't always share the SAME ideas, or the SAME opinions, just as not everyone in the group will share the SAME birthday.  The more people there are in a group, the more complex the relational networks become.  The harder it becomes to get people together to do something. This is why the larger a team becomes, the harder it is to determine strategic direction.

Swarms are not crowds of sharers, because they are about achieving something in particular. But swarms are not mobs, because they are not one-time events but ongoing relationships. 

Swarms are visionary, relationally-connected, self-organizing, adaptive, open, transformational, rapidly-multiplying structures. 

The common link is a "hub" person - a highly connected person of influence. You'll see in any large swarm (or network or crowd or mob) that some people are only lightly connected--they only have a few friends--while others are heavily connected and seem to know "everybody".  This balance provides for relational intimacy in a small group and connections to the wider group.

If you are starting a project, a group, or a company, reflect on the swarm concept.  Start with a small tightly knit group with a shared vision.  Group members can interact with other swarms to meet needs – fill in items that the local swarm requires. 

How big will your hive get?

Thank You for listening.