Lessons from Geese

Fact:
As each goose flaps it’s wings, it creates uplift for the bird following.
By flying in a ‘V’ formation, the whole flock adds 71% greater flying range than if the bird flew alone

Lesson:
People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are traveling 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 and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front.

Lesson:
If people have as much sense as geese, they will stay in formation with those who are headed where we want to go and be willing to accept their help as well as give help to others.

Fact:
When the lead goose gets tired, it rotates back into the formation and another goose flies the point position.

Lesson:
It pays to take turns doing the hard tasks and sharing leadership with people as, with geese, we are interdependent on each other.

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

Lesson:
People need to make sure honking from behind is
encouraging – and not something else.

Fact:
When a goose becomes sick or wounded, two geese drop out of formation and follow it down to help protect it. They stay with it until it dies or is able to fly again. Then they launch out on their own to try and catch up with their flock or they join another formation.

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

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