A Lot to Learn from Geese
Whenever I get together with my 810 girlfriends, I am always surprised at what I will learn and lake weekend was no exception.
We were sitting in the boat soaking up sun when we saw two geese followed by six or seven babies swimming near our boat. This led to a whole conversation about geese with one question we all wanted to know, “Do geese mate for life?”
Not long after the lake trip, Mona sent out a note confirming that geese do indeed mate for life. She also sent us valuable lessons about teamwork (that we could also apply to our friendship) from geese that she found during her research.
The lessons from geese was based on the work from Milton Olson. I bet after reading these lessons you will have a newfound respect for geese.
Fact one: As each bird flaps its wings, it creates an “uplift” for the bird following. By flying in a “V” formation, the whole flock adds 71% greater flying range than if the 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 two: Whenever a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to fly alone, and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the “lifting power” of the bird immediately in front. Lesson: If we have as much sense as a goose, we will stay in formation with those who are headed where we want to go (and be willing to accept their help as well as give ours to others.)
Fact three: When the lead goose gets tired, it rotates back into the formation and another flies at the point position. Lesson: It pays to take turns doing the hard task, and sharing leadership with people, as with geese, we are interdependent on each other.
Fact four: When a goose gets sick or wounded or shot down, two geese drop out of formation and follow it down to help and protect it. They stay until it is able to fly again or dies. Then they launch out on their own, with another formation, or catch up with the flock. Lesson: If we have as much sense as geese, we, too, will stand by each other in difficult times as well as when we are strongest.
Smart animals don't ya think?
We were sitting in the boat soaking up sun when we saw two geese followed by six or seven babies swimming near our boat. This led to a whole conversation about geese with one question we all wanted to know, “Do geese mate for life?”
Not long after the lake trip, Mona sent out a note confirming that geese do indeed mate for life. She also sent us valuable lessons about teamwork (that we could also apply to our friendship) from geese that she found during her research.
The lessons from geese was based on the work from Milton Olson. I bet after reading these lessons you will have a newfound respect for geese.
Fact one: As each bird flaps its wings, it creates an “uplift” for the bird following. By flying in a “V” formation, the whole flock adds 71% greater flying range than if the 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 two: Whenever a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to fly alone, and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the “lifting power” of the bird immediately in front. Lesson: If we have as much sense as a goose, we will stay in formation with those who are headed where we want to go (and be willing to accept their help as well as give ours to others.)
Fact three: When the lead goose gets tired, it rotates back into the formation and another flies at the point position. Lesson: It pays to take turns doing the hard task, and sharing leadership with people, as with geese, we are interdependent on each other.
Fact four: When a goose gets sick or wounded or shot down, two geese drop out of formation and follow it down to help and protect it. They stay until it is able to fly again or dies. Then they launch out on their own, with another formation, or catch up with the flock. Lesson: If we have as much sense as geese, we, too, will stand by each other in difficult times as well as when we are strongest.
Smart animals don't ya think?
posted by Holly @ 6:27 PM
1 Comments:
At 3:45 AM,
Kevin Eikenberry said…
This is a great post Holly. There is a training video on lessons from geese, but it doesn't say it or illustrate it any better than you do!
Keep writing - the world needs to hear your voice!
Kevin :)
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