LESSONS LEARNED FROM
WOLVES AND GEESE

There is much to be learned from animals in terms of teamwork and survival. Most animals are not solitary creatures...they depend upon their own skills, in combination with the skills of the pack, flock, herd, etc., for survival.

The wolf is the perfect example. Leadership is earned, and respected. They do what's in the best interest of the pack, because that's ultimately what's in their own best interest. Alone, they cannot survive. They are not strong enough, fast enough or skilled enough. But together...they are a force to be reckoned with.

In the corporate world, company presidents look good when they have managers who do their jobs well. Managers look good when the people they supervise do well. So...the company is really only as good as the individual parts...but the individuals are not employed without the company. They need each other and must work as a team to survive.

College coaches look for "team players" over individual stars. The great Dean Smith said he preferred a player who averaged 20 points a game on a winning team over a player who scored 30 points a game on a losing team. Why? Because the 30 point player could have done more to help the team.

College coaches would rather have somebody who scores 14 points a game, rebounds and plays great defense than somebody who scores 20 points a game but does not play good defense and doesn't rebound. Why? Because the player averaging 20 points a game does less to help the team.

It's not about self...it's about team.

Working together, sticking together, putting the best interest of the team over self...that is how you reach success. Somehow even geese have figured this out. Here are five facts about geese and the lessons we can learn from each.

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:
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 immediately in front of it.
LESSON:
If we have as much 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 formation and another goose flies to the point position.
LESSON:
It pays to take turns doing the hard tasks and sharing leadership. As with geese, people are interdependent on each other's skills, capabilities and unique arrangements of gifts, talents or resources.

FACT 4:
The geese flying in formation honk to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.
LESSON:
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 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.
LESSON:
If we have as much sense as geese, we will stand by each other in difficult times as well as when we are strong.