Each of you think about an organization or group that is in your opinion a real success.
Geese get where they are going because they collaborate with one another.
Wild geese in flight work together as a well-trained team, one that depends on each team member to hold up its end of the bargain.
No matter the squabble on the ground over tidbits of food, once airborne, geese know how to get along with another, and do it well.
Geese don’t have to plan their migration, it is instinct. The season changes and they take flight. Simple! We on the other hand suppress our instinct for simple and in the absence of instinct need to plan. Hence the importance of planning and setting goals.
Geese don’t have to think about the future. At the right time, when climate changes, they take flight for home. But they don’t always get there, like us, geese have roadblocks, unseasonable weather, disease, hunters, they also suffer unforeseen changes and upheavals. Expect the unexpected, learn continuously, communication with other people, set flexible goals, call on everyone’s resources.
A gaggle of wild geese understands its business, it is to protect, grow, and migrate. Simple, Clear. Like wise organizations need to evaluate what is their mission, vision, their values and their resources.
Geese don’t give half-heartedly; every goose in a gaggle is dedicated to getting where they need to go. You need a buy in of all stakeholders. You need to tap into the skills and talents of all your members. Everyone is valuable and can make great contributions.
Geese can fly, but geese have to learn to fly. Most, but not al birds have the capacity to fly, but they need to be pushed out of the nest and they have to practice their flying skills before becoming competent. Likewise unfettered friends have to learn to do things in the same way. We need to push ourselves and be pushed by others to reach our capacity/capability.
A gaggle of geese couldn’t make it home unless it made appropriate, economic use of their resources. Make the most of the contributions from each goose as it flies in formation. So in your organization heed the advice of the feathered friends manage the process and yourselves, not other people. None of us is as smart as all of us.
The V formation of wild geese seems to undulate as the gaggle flies. No flight leaders and squadron leaders head the formation and yet they keep aligned and in place. Instead birds shift positions and exchange places at will but always in a rhythm. Each keeping focused on the goal. As wild geese head home, they manage their resources well, they lead. They have shared leadership. This helps reinforced shared vision, mission, and creates an ownership. Teaches us to respect the skills, abilities and contributions of all those around us. You have the shared responsibility and responsiveness of the group.
Wild geese in flight do more than manage their resources and make the most of flock member’s contributions they also perform leadership actions to increase both the individual and group power. They honk loudly to cheer one another on. So honk, recognize, and reward efforts of each member of your organizations.
When they migrate, wild geese get where they are going only because of the enthusiasm, collaboration, with each other. They are committed to the same goal; ever see a “lone goose”?
When geese fly in formation does not constitute a team, but they do exhibit teamwork. Teamwork is characterized by collaboration and getting the best from other people regardless how they are organized. Teams don’t always work, but teamwork always accomplishes the goal expected of it.
Geese don’t choose the gaggle they are born into, they don’t have to learn how to live within a variety of groups the way you do when you have assume different roles or work with different groups. Whereas one generation of geese follows another into the normal life of a gaggle, groups of any kind, challenges to change and accept changing roles, situations, different leadership and groups and personalities. All these changes can make the thought of team, teamwork scary.
Geese don’t always get along with one another. As I was thinking of this I went down to fontenelle park, a zillion geese, the argue and squabble over food and mates. After a time of listening them honk threats at one another you will marvel that they can ever coordinate their flight patterns. The trick I think is that they don’t let personal feelings interfere with what they need to get done. Realize that when someone is criticizing a thought or idea, it is not you.
It takes that whole flock of geese to fly home. Older geese show younger ones the way to their winter home. Young ones in turn find their way back. While in flight, when a lead bird tires or falters, another takes it’s place. All the geese cheer each other on with loud honking and together as a group, they add power and commitment to each other. Geese travel great distances, they have good reason for flying in a V formation: individually, no one goose could fly as far as the gaggle as a whole. Hence people have good reason for working in teams, No one person can accomplish as much as the group as a whole.
Geese don’t always fly in formation. When they hang out together by the pond, one might fly off by himself, a couple of others might pair up for a short hop around the neighborhood. Most of the time, however, individual geese waddle around with both feet planted on the ground. They hunt for food, play goose games, mates. Yet when the time comes to move on to other climates, up they go into formation and head for home. In short, in their secret way of doing things, wild geese know when to form a team and when not too. Geese would starve if they remained in the gaggle….Individuals are better at taking care of her own basic needs. Play to your group’s strengths.
As the whole flock supports all the birds in formation, the whole organization must support the people in the group. Harness the power of the gaggle of geese depends not only on the effiency of the individual member, but also on how good the leader is. That the leader assures support and opportunity for members to flourish.
Lo! The eagle darting across the sky to catch its prey. However, when it comes to teamwork can’t hold a goose’s feathers. A gaggle of wild geese, whose coordination and commitment you see when they fly in formation, provides a much more usable model for self managed teams than does any group of eagles.
Working together as an organization and organizations working together. Same principles.
The same with organizations. In our society today with such an emphasis on independence, self-reliance, competitive culture, it makes collaboration hard. We need to train ourselves to commit ourselves. The basic process is, be committed, contribute, influence and be ready to be influenced.
As individual group members that means we need to recognize our own talents and limitations. We need to challenge ourselves to do our part. This confidence comes from success in our efforts, the challenge we give ourselves. What do you need to do to build your confidence, SKILLS?
Elements are:
Roadblocks:
People who never plan anything beyond to day, don’t recognize the importance of getting things done in a timely manner and may not have yet embraced the vision and mission.
People who confuse the list of what needs to get done, with the goals you have set.
People who set goals with out giving thought to how they relate to one another, to their lives and those of the people that are closest to them.
People who set ultimate goals and leap into activities without evaluating each step toward those goals. The intermediate goals are what keep us on track.
People, values, participation and leadership are what create a vibrant and productive organization.