“There is no limit to what can be accomplished if it doesn't matter who gets the credit."

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

I was hiking last weekend in the Santa Monica Mountains and was spellbound watching a hawk circle, soar, scan the ground below for its next meal and disappear behind a distant ridge. Many of us have looked at the magic of birds in flight and wished that we too could spread our wings and scoot around on the thermals, dive bombing for food, and giddily bypassing the urban gridlock that keeps us mere humans grinding away here on terra firma.

It turns out that in addition to their majesty and winged grace, there is an awful lot that birds in flight—specifically geese – can teach us about leadership and teambuilding.

Gathering and synthesizing this information about our feathered friends was the brainchild of Dr. Robert McNeish. McNeish was a high school biology teacher who enjoyed going over to the eastern shore of Maryland and observing the patterns of geese. Here’s what he observed and shared in a lay sermon in 1972:

Observation: 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.

Application: People who share a common direction and a sense of community can get where they are going more easily because they are traveling on the thrust and energy of each other. Find who shares your vision and align with them.

Observation: 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.

Application: Ask for help when you need it. Offer your assistance generously and do not worry if someone is riding on your coattails. Your time will come to draft off of someone else’s energy too.

Observation: When the lead goose tires, it rotates back into the formation and another goose assumes leadership flying in the point position.

Application: Explore the power of shared leadership by taking advantage of the unique skills, capabilities, talents and resources around you. Forward momentum can be maintained by sharing the hard tasks. Leadership does not mean you are responsible for everything—learn how to step aside and trust in the abilities of others.

Observation: Geese flying in formation honk to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.

Application: I do not believe it is possible to overstate the importance of positive feedback and encouraging words to shore up confidence, pride in task and willingness to take risk without fear of reprisal. Take the time to ‘honk!’

Observation: When a goose gets sick, wounded or shot down, two geese drop out of formation and follow it down to help and 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.

Application: The words ‘for better and for worse, in sickness and in health’ come to mind here. Bring some of your patience and compassion into the workplace and you will transform it. Each member of a team, a division, a group is important and each member needs to know they will be supported in times of need. Support breeds loyalty, kindness, security and commitment.

Because these birds 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, enormous flocks of geese, sometimes numbering in the thousands, routinely accomplish amazing feats. In Asia, Bar-headed Geese regularly migrate over the Himalayan Mountains, even over Mt. Everest at an altitude of 30,750 feet where the air is thin and the temperatures drop to 60 degrees below zero. Snow Geese make an annual round trip journey of more than 5,000 miles at speeds of 50 mph or more.

I’m quite sure geese don’t spend millisecond thinking about the leadership lessons they provide. Nonetheless, they show us a unity of purpose, shared resolve and focus on action that boggles the mind. 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 best leaders of all, the people know not they exist.
They turn to each other and say ‘We did it ourselves.’
~ Zen Saying

Dina Silver, MCC, is the Principal of Pegasus Coaching Group.

I specialize in leadership coaching working with senior executives and their teams to create great leaders and high impact groups. I have enjoyed success working with technically proficient people who need guidance in developing the interpersonal skills that are essential to effective and compelling leadership.

My background in the entertainment industry as a feature film and interactive game producer effectively assists me in helping leaders develop powerful executive presence so that ideas and challenging initiatives are met with keen interest and excitement. In order to lead, people must be excited to follow!

I have enjoyed trusted advisor status with high performance individuals, teams and organizations, coaching in high tech, entertainment, banking, and marketing.

I hold a B.A. in United States History from Princeton University. I am a Master Certified Coach (MCC) and hold my credentialing through the International Coach Federation. In addition, I am certified in a range of assessment tools including DISC and PIAV, and am an active member of Professional Coaches and Mentors Association (PCMA) and the International Coach Federation (ICF). I am married, have two teenage kids, two fat black cats and live in Santa Monica, CA.

If you are interested in learning more about how my work may be of value to you and your organization, please get in touch. I am happy to offer interested prospects a complimentary and confidential half hour coaching session so you can take me and coaching for a test drive.