Fact 1: As each goose flaps its wings it creates an “uplift” for the birds that follow. By flying in a “V” formation, the whole flock adds 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew alone.
Lesson 1: 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.
Fact 2: When a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of flying alone. It quickly moves back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird in front of it.
Lesson 2: If we have as much common sense as a goose, we stay in formation with those headed where we want to go. We are willing to accept their help and give our help to others.
Fact 3: When the lead goose tires, it rotates back into the formation and another goose flies to the point position.
Lesson 3: It pays to take turns doing the hard tasks and sharing leadership. As with geese, people are interdependent on each others’ skills, capabilities, and unique arrangements of gifts, talents, or resources.
Fact 4: Geese flying in formation honk to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.
Lesson 4: We need to make sure our honking is encouraging. In groups where there is encouragement, the production is much greater. The power of encouragement (to stand by one’s heart or core values and encourage the heart and core of others) is the quality of honking we seek.
Fact 5: When a goose gets sick, wounded, or shot down, two geese drop out of formation and follow it down to help protect it. They stay with it until it dies or is able to fly again. Then, they launch out with another formation or catch up with the flock.
Lesson 5: If we have as much sense as geese, we will stand by each other in difficult times as well as when we are strong.
June 24, 2007 at 9:49 pm |
So the lesson we’re to learn is that conformity is the best system? That’s a pretty scary concept.
Let’s remember our history books. Who else taught us that individualism is evil? Let’s just say they patented the goose-step.
June 29, 2007 at 7:06 am |
I liked this. If it’s true, these things about the geese that you say, that’s pretty clever.
September 7, 2007 at 5:32 pm |
Summary:
1: If you’re headed the same way, travel together. It is easier.
2: You can’t be ahead all the time. Step aside, you might get further than if you were ahead.
3: Don’t be a seagull
4: Help each other out, who knows when you might need help.
I thought that these were the lessons learnt.
It doesn’t say be conformist, but it implies that being non-conformist is difficult, which is true. It doesn’t say hey let’s all go the same way. It says, if you are going the same way, it makes sense to work together. You’re not racing to get there.