Geese and Teamwork

Have you ever witnessed they energy and commitment of a winning sports team or well-rehearsed orchestra? What you saw was more than just teamwork - it was team synergy, a phenomenon that occurs when a team achieves greater results than the sum of its parts. It is not just about a single individual, it is about the passion and the talent every member, creating a strength that can conquer the biggest challenges.

Teamwork from Geese

What Can We Learn from Geese?

A friend sent me a link to a video that explains many simple truths we can learn from geese.

1. As geese flap their wings, they create an uplift for the bird following.

2. By flying in a V formation, that whole flock adds 71% greater flying range than if any bird were to fly alone.

Takeaway: If we share a common direction and a sense of community, we get where we are going more quickly and easily because we are traveling on the thrust of one another.

3. Whenever a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to fly alone, so it quickly returns back to formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front.

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

4. When the lead goose get tired, it rotates back in formation and another goose flies at the point position.

Takeaway: If we take turns doing the hard tasks and sharing leadership as with the geese we become interdependent with one another.

5. Geese in formation honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.

Takeaway: If we give positive encouragement to team members, we strengthen the team.

6. When a goose gets sick or shot down, two geese drop out of formation and follow it down to help and protect it. They stay with it until it is able to fly again or dies. They then launch out on their own, with another formation or catch up with the flock.

Takeaway: We, too, should stand by each other in difficult times, as well as when we are strong.

Short and simple, the geese remind us to pull together, that everyone matters and no one can be left behind.