Teamwork

TAKE FIVE LESSONS FROM THE GEESE AND WILD DUCKS: (For a slide presentation of the following, click here) 1. As each goose flaps its wings, it creates a “uplift” for the birds 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 get where they are going quicker and easier because they are traveling on the thrust of one another. 2. 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 birds immediately in front. LESSON: If we have as much sense as a goose, we will join formation with those who are headed where we want to go. 3. When a 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 one another. 4. 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 helpful. 5. When a goose get sick, wounded or shot, two geese drop out of formation and follow their fellow member, to help and provide protection. They stay with this member of the flock until he or she either is able to fly again or dies. Then they launch out on their own, with another formation, or to catch up with their own flock. LESSON: If we have as much sense as the geese, we’ll stand by one another like they do.