LESSONS
FROM GEESE
As each goose flaps its wings, it creates an “uplift”
for the bird following. By flying in a “V”
formation, the whole flock adds 71% more flying range
than if each bird flew alone.
Lesson: People who share a common direction and sense
of community can go further and get where they are
going quicker and easier because they are traveling
on the thrust of one another.
Whenever a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly
feels the drag and resistance of trying to fly alone
and quickly gets back in formation to take advantage
of the “lifting power”
of the bird immediately in front.
Lesson: If we have as much sense as a goose, we will
stay in formation with those who are headed where we
want to go.
When the lead 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 – with people, as with
geese, interdependent with each other.
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 something less than helpful.
When a goose gets sick or wounded or shot down, two
geese drop out of formation and follow it down to help
and protect him.
They stay with the goose until it is either able to
fly again, or dies. Then they launch out on their
own with another formation or catch up to the flock.
Lesson: If we have as much sense as geese, we will
stand by each other in hard times as well as good.
- Author Unknown
