I first read this back in the late 80′s. It remains one of my favorites.
LESSONS FROM THE GEESE
By Robert McNeish, former Assoc. Superintendent of Baltimore Public Schools, 1972
We live in an area where geese are very common. We see them coming in the Fall and leaving in early Spring. Their migration is an awesome sight.
There is interdependence in the way geese function.
FACT: As each bird flaps its wings, it creates an “up lift” for the bird following. 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: Whenever a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to fly alone, it quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the “lifting power” of the bird immediately in front.
LESSON: If we have a much sense as a goose, we will stay in formation with those who are headed where we want to go.
FACT: When a goose gets tired, it rotates back into formation and another goose flies at the point position.
LESSON: It pays to take turns doing the hard tasks and sharing leadership. People, as with geese, are interdependent with each other.
FACT: The geese in formation honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.
LESSON: We need to make sure our “honking” from behind is encouraging, not criticism or something less helpful.
FACT: When a goose gets sick or wounded or shot down, two geese drop out of formation to follow him down to help and protect him. They stay with him until he is either able to fly again or dies. They then launch out again and join another formation or catch up with their flock.
LESSON: If we have as much sense as the geese, we will stand by each other.
Great Blog, Donna. You’re so right. If we would, like the geese, form together to encourage one another, we would all be successful aster. We need to take turns in helping each other and in doing so, receive this feelng of satisfaction that is like no other.
Twitter gives us the opportunity to meet people who want to move in a similar direction and help others to grow.
-Dr. Joyce
Donna, I love what you have written today. You are so right. We are part of a community, and within that community we support each other. Sometimes we lead, sometimes we follow, and other times we travel side-by-side. If we try and do it by ourselves, eventually we get tired, falter and then we cannot fly.
gg
Thank you for your comments.
That’s right! NO leader can lead all the time. Everyone needs “down time” to rejuvenate.
In sharing the lead, and the power that accompanies it, one also has the opportunity to get in touch with their humility, which is very important in leadership!
the part about the leaders would be great translated to arabic and sent to our “very tired” leaders. hope i dont go to jail for this.
If more leaders thought this way, what a different world this would be!
May you be protected and kept from harms way.