The Lessons of the Geese

Flying in perfect formation, cooperating as a team, unified behind experienced leadership, constantly encouraging and helping others

  If we share a common direction and a sense of unity, we can get where we are going more quickly and easily because we are traveling, so to speak, on the thrust of one another.  This is the first great lesson from geese.  As geese flap their wings, they create uplift for the bird following.  In addition to uplift, by flying in a V formation, the whole flock adds 71% greater flying range than if any bird were to fly alone.

 

   The uplift and forward formation momentum of the flock is reinforced among individual geese: Whenever a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to fly alone, and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front.   If we can learn anything from geese, it is to stay in formation with those who are headed where we want to go, and be willing to accept help from others as well as give ours to others.  Going it alone—being independent of the flock—leads to falling behind.

    When we take turns doing the hard tasks and encouraging everyone on the team we are also following the lead of the geese.  Whenever the lead goose in the V formation gets tired, it rotates back into formation and another goose flies at the point position. All the other geese in formation honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed. All of this creates a positive interdependence with the geese…as well as with our teams.  It pays to take turns doing the hard tasks. We should respect and protect each other's unique arrangement of skills, capabilities, talents and resources. In addition, we need to make sure our honking is encouraging. In teams where there is encouragement, productivity and results are much greater. Individual empowerment results from quality honking!

   When we display our team loyalty and stand by each other in difficult times, as well as when we are strong, we are once again following the example of the geese.  When a goose, for example, gets sick or wounded or is shot down, two geese always drop out of formation and follow it down to help and protect it. They stay with it until it is able to fly again or dies. They then launch out on their own, with another formation or catch up with the flock.   It is important for our team members to not just fly in formation but to also be award of how everyone else is performing:  Let us all try to fly in formation and remember to drop back to help those who might need it.

THE POWER OF TEAMWORK

   The greatest accomplishments in life are not achieved by individuals alone, but by proactive people pulling together for a common good. Look behind every winner and you will find a great coach or a positive role model. Look alongside every great achiever and you will find people offering encouragement, support and able assistance.

   Rising to the level of interdependent thinking can be challenging and difficult. Looking beyond one self, seeing your self as part of something larger, asking for and accepting help or giving help can feel risky. But people are not given life to simply take from one another. Our mission in life is to offer our gifts to benefit one another, to create mutual gain in the world. This is called teamwork, a win/win mindset stemming from a genuine commitment to the rules that allow it to happen.

  Everyone should take a moment to think of our organization and the teams in which they participate, and ask if those teams measure up to the lessons of the geese: Flying in perfect formation, cooperating as a team, unified behind experienced leadership, constantly encouraging and helping others