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Leadership Lessons From the Goose

by Frank McMillon Web Designer and Professional Consultant
Author: By Robert McNeish, former Assoc. Superintendent of Baltimore Public Schools, 1972


Fact 1: As each goose flaps its wings it creates an "uplift" for the birds that follow. By flying in a "V" formation, the whole flock adds 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew alone.


Lesson: People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going quicker and easier because they are traveling on the thrust of one another.


Fact 2: When a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of flying alone. It quickly moves back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front of it.


Lesson: If we have as much sense as a goose we stay in formation with those headed where we want to go. We are willing to accept their help and give our help to others.

Fact 3: When the lead goose tires, it rotates back into the formation and another goose flies to the point position.


Lesson: It pays to take turns doing the hard tasks and sharing leadership. As with geese, people are interdependent on each other's skills, capabilities and unique arrangements of gifts, talents or resources.


Fact 4: The geese flying in formation honk to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.


Lesson: We need to make sure honking is encouraging. In groups where there is encouragement the production is much greater. The power of encouragement (to stand by one"s heart or core values and encourage the heart and core of others) is the quality of honking we seek.

Fact 5: When a goose gets sick, wounded, or shot down, two geese drop out of formation and follow it down to help and protect it. They stay with it until it dies or is able to fly again. Then, they launch out with another formation or catch up with the flock.


Lesson: If we have as much sense as geese, we will stand by each other in difficult times as well as when we are strong.

In Closing

"If you have no character to lose, people will have no faith in you." ~Mahatma Gandhi

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About Frank McMillon Committed     Web Designer and Professional Consultant

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Joined APSense since, May 24th, 2007, From Norfoik, United States.

Created on Dec 31st 1969 18:00. Viewed 0 times.

Comments

Cheryl Baumgartner Professional Premium   Medical Billing/Coding/Insurance
Nature designs things to be successful. It's when we start adding our need to pull things apart or jam them into little boxes that we have problems. We could learn a lot from watching how things are done in the animal kingdom.
Mar 22nd 2010 08:16   
Philippe Moisan Magnate II   Tutorial videos, sci-fi writer
An "important" person, she is a niece from a MLM company owner, she called me "silly goose" recently.

I guess it was a compliment after all. :)
Dec 27th 2010 20:57   
Patsy j Payne Committed   konnektions konsultant
Cheryl called u a "silly goose", mmmm.
Now to the article, excellent reminder of the importance of relationship marketing. I have observed several examples of that type of marketing, it is awesome.
Dec 27th 2010 21:36   
Philippe Moisan Magnate II   Tutorial videos, sci-fi writer
LOL

I didn't know Cheryl was the niece of a MLM company owner. :)

No, it wasn't her. She would use more colorful names than that, I'm sure. Especially since I dared say she is adorable in a comment. :)
Dec 27th 2010 21:39   
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