Synergy- Why do geese fly in a V formation? June 10, 2006
Posted by humairah in General, Laws of nature, Management.trackback
As the geese take flight from the Canadian shoreline, they lift off from the water in squawking discourse. Yet, in a matter of seconds, a line begins to emerge from the mass of brown feathers. This line straightens, arches slightly, and then, as on cue, bends sharply to form a perfect V shape. Canada geese fly in V formation for a very pragmatic reason: a flock of geese flying in formation can move faster and maintain flight longer than any one goose flying alone. Synergy is a law of nature.
What is synergy? How does it relate to leadership?
We have a lot to learn from these geese.
- By flying in "V " formation, the whole flock adds at least 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew on its own.
=>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. - Whenever a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to go it alone and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front.
=>If we have as much sense as a goose, we will stay in formation with those who are heading in the same as we are. - When the lead goose gets tired, he rotates back in the wing and another goose flies point.
=> It pays to take turns doing hard jobs, with people or with flying geese. - These geese honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.
=> We need to be careful what we say when we honk from behind. - Finally, when a goose gets sick, or is wounded by gunshot, and falls out, two geese fall out of formation and follow him down to help and protect him. They stay with him until he is either able to fly or until he is dead, and then they launch out on their own or with another formation until they catch up with their group.
=> If we have the sense of a goose, we will stand by each other, protect one another and sometimes make new friends who seem to be going in our direction.
Synergy is best explained as, 'One plus one equals more than two'. Today's world requires a critical mass of transformational leaders who will commit to creating a synergy of energy within their circle of influence so new level of social, economic, organizational and spiritual success can be reached. Synergy helps you realise the value of others, and secondly, encourages you to find the right people. Synergy is a dynamic form of leverage. Avoid using it, and end up working four times as hard for half the results. Use it and watch the results expand exponentially!
In an upcoming article, I will talk about the 7 principles of transformational leadership.
Feels like I just got Goosed
I think we need to take our seats–all of them–in our
state legislatures and in Congress.
And if we will do this together, all of us recruiting more and still more
candidates for the ‘08 cycle together, and then run together, speaking together from the heart, we will achieve adulthood….
It’s called “self-government”. It’s called meeting our responsibilities…
to democracy at this crucial time.
Denny Morrisseau
Lieutenant Morrisseau’s Rebellion
dmorso@netzero.net
dmorso
The Goose Story (more accurately the Goose Myth).
This myth was invented by management consultants to support their model of organisational structures.
The real facts are that birds always follow the same leader (or pair of leaders in some case). This applies to formation flyers such as geese, birds that sometimes fly in formation but not always such as pelicans and birds that never fly in formation such as homing pigeons.
There is an aerodynamic benefit in V formation but geese do not form the right shape V to get the full benefit. Their formation compromises aerodynamic benefit with the greater security from a formation that provides greater visibility.
I have read all the Dr Dolittle books and the geese never claimed that their honking was encouragement. I have been unable to find a more reliable translotor of the goose language. My personal opinion is that the honking comes from juvenile geese and means “Are we there yet, are we there yet?”
Th Library of Congress used to carry this myth on their website until I challenged them to check their references and they have since removed any mention of change of leadership as it cannot be confirmed.
Pre-internet sources from the 19th and 20th centuries, including much US and Canadian Government funded research confirm that the same one or two geese always lead the formation. They are variously dubbed as ‘pilots’ or, in 19th century records ‘captains’ which named the leader of the front V as the ‘Admiral’. The myth arose early in the life of the www and has spread in the same way urban myths spread.
I do not think that geese honk to encourage the other geese. It is not very common for geese to think the way we do. I believe that geese honk to let the front goose know if anyone falls behind or if he is going to fast. Geese honking to encourage is not a very logical reason. And how could scientist know what they are saying. I am a hunter and I call the geese, and ducks in so i can hunt them. I study what i hear from them and it doesn’t seem to be encouraging. That is just what i believe. If you think any different let me know. I will be comming back to this site often to see what you think.
have a video clips
Please send me a picture of the geese flying in a V formation
[...] When the lead goose gets tired, he rotates back in the wing and another goose flies point. => It pays to take turns doing hard jobs, with people or with flying geese. full article & other goosy aerodynamic trivia: >> Synergy- Why do geese fly in a V formation? Leadership in Perspective [...]
I am surprising how geese fly it is very nice.
I want to have picture of flying geese to the right, I only get flying to the left. If you have it please send me.
thanks