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.
Technorati Tags: Motivation, Inspiration, Team Work, Collaboration, Leadership, Illustration, Analogy, Example
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Wow! Great minds do think alike. Earlier today, I reposted Lessons from a post I did a year ago.
In response to fact #5
this statement is at least partially incorrect. I have been hunting geese all my life and I have shot my share of geese. When you shoot and kill or injure a goose the rest of the flock or “jag” as hunters call it, takes off like bats out of hell. not once have I been so lucky to see 2 more birds follow the bird I shot to the ground.
in response to fact #4
it is as well incorrect
the goose honk is simply a locater call. Geese use it to “see” what is going on within the flock. It is also used when there is a change in a lead bird or when a bird falls behind (I know this for a fact, I’ve seen it)
they do not do it to encourage the other geese.
Please check out website: http://suewidemark.com/lessonsgeese.htm re: the authorship of the Lessons of Geese.
Hope this is helpful
I think that this lesson is really terrific! Personally I view myself as a leader. As odd as it may sound that geese are a leader figure it is possible. Leaders can be found in anyone and I think this was a creative way to teach leadership!
Good example of what leaders do!
THIS IS THE AUTHOR’S NAME
By Robert McNeish, former Assoc. Superintendent of Baltimore Public Schools, 1972
Hi Donna,
Thanks you so much for helping me with the author for this great piece. I was unable to find the origional author in my research. I will update post accordingly.
Best Regards,