A flock of geese or group of geese is called a 'Gaggle'. When the geese are flying in formation this is considered a skein, team or wedge. Now, this isn't an article with useless facts about geese or the humble goose. We're going to dissect four powerful lessons we can learn about leadership from geese.
- Increased Productivity: Various sources claim that geese produce 72% increased range when flying in the "V" formation. When a lone goose breaks formation, the increased resistence makes it more difficult to fly alone and cover the distance to keep with the group. When groups and organizations work together, they too can increase their productivity. Often times, groups and organizations tend to work in silos, creating an effect that is sometimes appearing to have productivity and achievement, but in the long-run it slows down productivity. There are organizations, however, that can overcomplicate teamwork. Organizations that utilize the 'leadership by committee' model tend to have a lot of ideas with very little productivity. When everyone has a say in the final decision, regardless of expertise, experience or competence, you dilute the sense of ownership.
- Collective Responsibility: Geese take turns leading the group, when the lead goose gets tired, another goose takes the lead, and the lead goose falls to the back where flying becomes easier. This creates an environment revolving around leadership development, and empower others to exercise their talents, abilities, gifts and resources to lead. In sales organizations, or sales teams we focus on collective responsibility by having team members write 'thank you' letters or doing demonstrations. In account-based sales, this is often not welcomed, however, our goal is to emulate the image that we operate as a team and support one another. You have a team behind you when you do business with us. This gives everyone the opportunity to run demos, do prequalification meetings, and write thank you letters or speaking engagements.
- The Power of Positivity: In a flying V formation, the geese will honk to let the lead goose know they're doing a great job of keeping pace and leaving no one behind. Honking is a positive reinforcement strategy geese use to let the others know they're doing a great job, and that they need the geese to perform in order to achieve their desired goal. In organizations, giving praise and letting others know they're doing a great job should be a normal and standard practice. As a basketball coach, I teach my athletes about the power of "touches", this includes high fives, fist pounds, pats on the back, chest bumps, etc. We celebrate on the bench when someone does something simple but effective. For example, we praise the left hand layup. This sounds elementary, but when an athlete makes a great move and finishes at the rim with their left hand, the entire bench stands up and raises their left hand and cheers the athlete on.
- Supporting Individual Development: Individual development doesn't mean it has to be done alone, it simply implies that you are developing your personal skill set so the team can become stronger. The team competes for highest performer, meeting quota, most appointments or most demos. However, there are invaluable skills that come with peforming. If your team members are lagging in any of the essential areas, your team will suffer. Geese, are always rotating leadership roles to ensure that each individual goose is developing at the same level as the others in the group, and striving to achieve a high performer status. In sales teams or sports, the team is only as strong as the weakest link. Iron sharpens iron, as they say. One of the biggest goals I have is to help develop each individual athlete which helps strengthen the group as a whole.
