Lead Like Geese

What is so special about them? 
Have you ever seen a flock of geese flying overhead? You have probably noticed their unique “V” formation.  Geese are heavy birds, and they fly fast – over 30 miles per hour – using powerful wing beats, rather than gliding like eagles or vultures.. Geese work very hard during migration flights.  When you see Geese heading south for the winter, flying along in V formation, you might consider what science has discovered as to why they fly that way: as each bird flaps its wings,

The flapping creates an uplift for the bird immediately following, thus reducing the effort each goose has to expend to travel and greatly expanding how far it can go.

So how can we learn leadership from a flock of geese?  Geese encourage us to think not about leaders, but about exemplary leadership. They have a lot to teach us about leadership, empathy, vision and teamwork.

Leadership Lesson 1: we get farther when we are together.
Geese wisdom: When geese fly in a V formation, they improve the overall efficiency of the flock by 71%. By flying in V formation rather than each bird flying on its own, the flapping of wings creates air patterns that lift surrounding birds, reducing the effort each goose has to expend to travel and greatly expanding how far it can go.

Learnings: How can a team, organisation, anyone learn and use this lesson? When one shares a sense of direction it’s easy to work as a team and reach the destination quickly and easily. People who share a common direction and vision can get where they are going faster because they are travelling on the thrust of one another or the energy of each other.

Reflections: 

• Ask yourself, when did you feel aligned to the common goal in your organisation, team or  your family

• Did you feel any difference?

• What were the lessons you learnt?

Do Pause, Reflect and now write down your takeaways.

Leadership Lesson 2:  I get by with a little help from my friends

Geese wisdom: When a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to go alone and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird in front.

Learnings: This also shows how one with awareness and collective knowledge, quick course correction can realign with the common goal.

Reflections: 

• Have you helped a colleague or a friend if they fall behind?

• Has clarity of goals helped you realign and brought you back on track?

• Do you have an accountability partner in your life?

• Did working in a team raised your productivity?

Do Pause, Reflect and now write down your takeaways.

Leadership Lesson 3: Shared stakeholders in leadership

Geese wisdom:: What can one learn from a flock of geese? And their flying pattern, When the goose at the front of the V formation–where flying is harder–gets tired, it moves to the end and another goose takes the lead.

Learnings: The lesson I learned from this is that leadership is not something one is born with, it’s acquired and it needs action and opportunity.

How can I help my employees in my organisation?

Give everybody a chance to contribute by taking turns leading and following. Optimise each person’s unique skills, capabilities, knowledge, and resources. Also, Cross-functional roles are a great way to create future leaders. In the company especially in the VUCA world (Volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity)   & great resignation environments.

Reflections: 

• When was the last time you had to take an untimely leadership role or a planned leadership role?

• What did you feel when you were leading?

• Did it help you to grow as a leader?

• How can you help your team members by creating opportunities to lead?

• What kind of strengths did you spot in yourself on such occasions?

Pause, Reflect and now write down your takeaways.  How can you make your team future-ready?

Leadership Lesson 4: Motivate and encourage

Geese wisdom:: Why do the Geese flying in a V-formation honk to encourage the geese ahead of them?  Honking helps them communicate their position to maintain speed and is used to communicate.

Learnings:  How often do we in a leadership role use the power of communication?

In my coaching journey, one thing I can say with pride is that listening, communicating and motivating play a big role in making any association, coaching conversation from good to great.

How can one use this skill as a leader by communicating which is encouraging and supportive thus boosting performance and keeping the team moving together?

Reflections:

• When was the last time you heard yourself honking for a fellow peer, group or for your friend’s success?

• Did you feel the power of magnanimity when you did that or did you use it for your own reasons?

Genuine and sincere motivation creates leaders who don’t need a tag of a leader but are anyway followed.

Pause, Reflect and now write down your takeaways. Take your time, revisit and add your reflections.

Leadership Lesson 5:  Compassion and Empathy

Geese wisdom:: 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 until it dies or can fly again. Then they launch out with another formation or catch up with the flock.

Learnings::  leaders provide support and empathy when needed also are available to put their needs aside to make the team member comfortable. We have seen many cases of exemplary leadership during the Covid-19 pandemic where people have stood by others, be it the Prime Minister of New Zealand or many volunteers or leaders who supported and stood up during this time of crisis.  The lessons are worth imbibing as they are the acts of compassion that make us all humans.

Reflections: 

• When was the time when you showed care and empathy to another human?

• Did you make that extra hour to visit a sick employee or made time to encourage someone to learn a new skill?

Can we create more kind leaders who can work with others with both head and heart?

Pause, Reflect and now write down your takeaways. Take your time, revisit and add your reflections.

In the end, I would like to add this quote,  “One note does not make a symphony; one artist does not make an orchestra.” ― Matshona Dhliwayo. There is a lot of power in the word ‘We’. One can create music for everyone around, If we create from the heart, instead of the head. Exemplary leadership occurs when heart and head–feeling and thought–meet. These are the two winds that allow a leader to soar. Keep your head up, keep your heart strong and listen to the symphony.

“Lessons from Geese” was transcribed from a speech given by Angeles Arrien at the 1991 Organisational Development Network and is based on the work of Milton Olson.