Friday, March 30, 2007

Some Lessons From Geese

Business owners are constantly bombarded with information from a wide variety of organisations offering way to make more sales, save money, improve the bottom line and make their business more successful.

This interesting piece from Saatchi and Saatchi advertising (New Zealand) is reproduced with their permission. It offers timely principles that we can all apply in our own business t produce better outcomes. And the principles come from an intriguing source... none other than one of nature’s feathered species...geese!

These lessons will become increasingly relevant as we fly into the turbulent skies characterised by the impact of global warming, water management, workplace reform and the constancy of change.

Here are the five lessons from our feathered friends.

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 percent extra flying range.

Lesson 1:
People who share a sense of teamwork and co-operation can help each other get where they are going more easily because they are travelling on the trust of one another.
When a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of flying alone. It quickly moves back to take advantage of lifting power of the birds in front.

Lesson 2:
If we have as much sense as geese, we stay information with those headed where we want to go. We are willing to accept their help and give our help to others.
When the lead goose tires, it drops back into the formation and another goose flies to the point position.

Lesson 3:
It pays to take turns doing the hard tasks. We should respect and protect each other’s unique arrangement of skills, capabilities, talents and resources.
The geese flying in formation honk to encourage those up front to keep up with their speed.

Lesson 4:
We need to make sure our honking is encouragement. In groups where there is encouragement, production is much greater. Individual empowerment results from quality honking.
When a goose gets sick, two geese drop out of formation and follow it down to help and protect it.
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.

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