[book id=’70’ /]
Team Building & Leadership Lessons from Geese birds
Team building skills are critical for our effectiveness as a Manager or Entrepreneur. People in every workplace talk about building the team, working as a team, but few understand how to create the experience of team work or how to develop an effective team. Belonging to a team, in the broadest sense, is a result of feeling part of something larger than you.
We do have some lessons from Geese which provide a perfect example of the importance of team work and how it can have a profound and powerful effect on any form of personal or business endeavour. Geese take full advantage of the power of their group, sharing leadership responsibilities and flying in a structure that enables the flock to leverage the strength and power of its individual members, sometimes numbering in to thousands. It is said that the Geese can make an annual round trip journey of more than 5,000 miles at a speed of 50 mph or more!
The Importance of Achieving Goals : As each goose flaps its wings it creates”UPLIFT” for the birds that follow. By flying in a ‘V’ formation the whole flock adds 71 percent extra to the flying range.
When we have a sense of community and focus, we create trust and can help each other to achieve our goals.
The Importance of Team Work : When a goose falls out of formation it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of flying alone. It quickly moves back to take advantage of the lifting power of the birds in front.
If we had as much sense as geese we would stay in formation with those headed where we want to go. We are willing to accept their help and give our help to others.
The Importance of Sharing : When a goose tires of flying up front it drops back into formation and another goose flies to the point position.
It pays to take turns doing the hard tasks. We should respect and protect each other’s unique arrangement of skills, capabilities, talents and resources.
The Importance of Empathy and Understanding : When a goose gets sick, two geese drop out of formation and follow it down to the ground to help and protect it.
If we have as much sense as geese we will stand by each other in difficult times, as well as when we are strong.
The Importance of Encouragement : Geese flying in formation ‘HONK’ to encourage those up front to keep up with their speed.
We need to make sure our honking is encouraging. In groups and teams where there is encouragement, productivity is much greater. ‘Individual empowerment results from quality honking’.
Finally, the geese teach us that someone has to take the lead and someone has to honk from behind. Each team member brings different skills and abilities to accomplish the goals.
So, the next time you see geese flying above, take a moment to remind yourself just how smart they are, and what we can learn from them. The geese teach us to work as a team, work together in unity, share the hard jobs when it comes to leading, and honk from behind to encourage others.
Tarun Taunk
Editor-In-Cheif
