V Formation of the Geese - An Important Lesson

This morning I observed once again the most beautiful thing - several flocks of geese flying over my home. It was their flight honk that caught my attention and made me look out the window. It reminds me again the principles of the V formation. And it is another reminder of all the things I love about Fall.

And why do geese honk in flight?

It is to support the leader. The leader has the most wind coming at it and the other geese get lifted up my the air from the leader's wings. By honking, they tell the leader that they can do it and to keep going!

A flock of geese flying in formation can move faster and maintain flight longer than any one goose flying alone. Synergy is a law of nature.

What is synergy? How does it relate to leadership?

We have a lot to learn from these geese.

By flying in "V " formation, the whole flock adds at least 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew on its own.

=>People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going quicker and easier because they are traveling on the thrust of one another.

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

=>If we have as much sense as a goose, we will stay in formation with those who are heading in the same as we are.

When the lead goose gets tired, he rotates back in the wing and another goose flies point.

=> It pays to take turns doing hard jobs, with people or with flying geese.These geese honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.'

=> We need to be careful what we say when we honk from behind.

Finally, when a goose gets sick, or is wounded by gunshot, and falls out, two geese fall out of formation and follow him down to help and protect him. They stay with him until he is either able to fly or until he is dead, and then they launch out on their own or with another formation until they catch up with their group.

=> If we have the sense of a goose, we will stand by each other, protect one another and sometimes make new friends who seem to be going in our direction.