Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • 145 views

    5 Things Geese Can Teach Us About Teamwork

    Uploaded by

    Ethel Protomartir Cacayuran
    Geese flying in V-formation can teach us about effective teamwork: (1) Working together in a coordinated formation allows geese to fly farther with less energy, and teamwork allows people to achieve goals more easily. (2) Geese that break formation exert more effort and quickly return to take advantage of the benefits of cooperation. Similarly, people on teams work best when staying actively involved in the group. (3) Geese take turns leading the formation to share the effort, and effective teams allow members to both follow and lead according to their skills.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    5 Things Geese Can Teach Us About Teamwork

    Uploaded by

    Ethel Protomartir Cacayuran
    145 views2 pages
    Geese flying in V-formation can teach us about effective teamwork: (1) Working together in a coordinated formation allows geese to fly farther with less energy, and teamwork allows people to achieve goals more easily. (2) Geese that break formation exert more effort and quickly return to take advantage of the benefits of cooperation. Similarly, people on teams work best when staying actively involved in the group. (3) Geese take turns leading the formation to share the effort, and effective teams allow members to both follow and lead according to their skills.

    Original Description:

    Teamwork

    Original Title

    5 THINGS GEESE CAN TEACH US ABOUT TEAMWORK

    Copyright

    © © All Rights Reserved

    Available Formats

    DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    Geese flying in V-formation can teach us about effective teamwork: (1) Working together in a coordinated formation allows geese to fly farther with less energy, and teamwork allows people to achieve goals more easily. (2) Geese that break formation exert more effort and quickly return to take advantage of the benefits of cooperation. Similarly, people on teams work best when staying actively involved in the group. (3) Geese take turns leading the formation to share the effort, and effective teams allow members to both follow and lead according to their skills.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    145 views2 pages

    5 Things Geese Can Teach Us About Teamwork

    Uploaded by

    Ethel Protomartir Cacayuran
    Geese flying in V-formation can teach us about effective teamwork: (1) Working together in a coordinated formation allows geese to fly farther with less energy, and teamwork allows people to achieve goals more easily. (2) Geese that break formation exert more effort and quickly return to take advantage of the benefits of cooperation. Similarly, people on teams work best when staying actively involved in the group. (3) Geese take turns leading the formation to share the effort, and effective teams allow members to both follow and lead according to their skills.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    of 2

    5 THINGS GEESE CAN TEACH US

    ABOUT TEAMWORK

    The following is excerpted and re-formatted from a manuscript I am editing entitled Lead
    Like Butler: Six Principles For Values-Based Leaders, by Kent Millard and Judith Cebula
    (Abingdon, 2012). The book, to be published at the beginning of next fall’s college
    basketball campaign, looks at six principles that have driven the success of the Butler
    University Men’s Basketball team. This segment looks at the value of teamwork.

    E very fall thousands of geese fly from Canada to the southern part of the

    United States to escape the bitterly cold Canadian winter. As soon as a flock of geese
    take flight from Canadian waters they quickly form a v-shape flying pattern, with one
    rotating goose in the center lead and all the other geese trailing behind in two close
    lines.
    Wildlife scientists have conducted extensive studies to determine why geese and other
    migratory birds always fly in a distinctive v-formation. They found some fascinating
    results:

    1. When geese fly together, each goose provides additional lift and reduces air
    resistance for the goose flying behind it. Consequently, by flying together in a v-
    formation, scientists estimate that the whole flock can fly about 70% farther with the
    same amount of energy than if each goose flew alone. Geese have discovered that
    they can reach their destination more quickly and with less energy expended when they
    fly together in formation. When people work together harmoniously on teams, sharing
    common values and a common destination, they all arrive at the destination quicker and
    easier, because they are lifted up by the energy and enthusiasm of one another.

    2. When a goose drops out of the v-formation it quickly discovers that it requires
    a great deal more effort and energy to fly. Consequently, that goose will quickly
    return to the formation to take advantage of the lifting power that comes from flying
    together. Sometimes people playing on teams will drop out of the group and try to
    accomplish goals on their own. However, like the geese, they usually discover that they
    miss the synergy and energy that comes when they are an active part of a cohesive
    team moving toward their destination, and want to return to the group.

    3. Geese rotate leadership. When the goose flying in the front of the formation has to
    expend the most energy because it is the first to break up the flow of air that provides
    the additional lift for all of the geese who follow behind the leader. Consequently, when
    the lead goose gets tired, it drops out of the front position and moves to the rear of the
    formation, where the resistance is lightest, and another goose moves to the leadership
    position. This rotation of position happens many times in the course of the long journey
    to warmer climates. When a team is functioning well, various members of the team may
    take the leadership role for a while because of a particular expertise or
    experience. Consequently, on good teams, everyone has the opportunity to serve as a
    leader as well as a follower.

    4. Geese honk at each other. They also frequently make loud honking sounds as they
    fly together. Scientists speculate that this honking is their way of communicating with
    each other during their long flight. Similarly, when working on teams, it is exceedingly
    important for each team member to communicate regularly with all the other team
    members. Teams frequently fall apart because of the lack of adequate communication
    among the various members of the team. Perhaps human teams can learn from flying
    flocks of geese that constant communication among members is exceedingly important
    in moving effectively towards a common destination.

    You might also like