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| Your Speaker Of Choice For 2009 |
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How many days of your professional lives have you spent at that motivational, career-changing leadership workshop, conference or retreat? Your managers ensure it will increase team morale and productivity. Of course, participation in such business components looks good on your resume, and makes great conversation in an interview. It can last one work day, an entire Saturday, or take up an entire week. It is held in venues ranging from the break room of your branch office to the sprawling, beautifully landscaped conference center in the country, the latter most likely to be inhabited by the Canadian Snow Goose, those suddenly chic fixtures that roam the properties these days. A few years ago, I noticed the communal nature with which these animals flow, very seldom alone, waddling along a road or swimming in groups. Watch them closely. You will notice the rhythm they eventually achieve while walking, their long necks all moving side to side. They are all in a straight line behind the leader. Further observation showed me the random nature in which they choose that one goose they all line up behind when they feel threatened or when they take off across a field or pond. When they walk, no goose dares step out from behind the leader, sending its fellow fowl behind it into a dilemma, having to decide whether to follow it - where ever that is, or catch up with the leaders or the others in front of the goose that decided to stray. It is an ingrained teamwork, moving the entire flock from point A to point B with the least energy possible, at least until you toss some popcorn in their direction. Then you watch these geese fly, an entirely different clinic on how the role of leader is so random and interchangeable among them.
Humans don't possess that innate, follower- suddenly- turned-leader characteristic. Corporations, through their recruitment, try to create a human resource from which they can create successful teams who research, argue, present, market and connect. Optimally, those teams are comprised of men and women who can, at a moment's notice, step out front and lead. The competitive climate in our world today forces the aspiring CEO to acquire the knowledge and skill so that, from the door, they can potentially represent ideas and groups of people, great and small, immediately. You saw Bud Fox in Wall Street. OK, bad analogy right now. Those who aren't part of the microcosm of those born with the ability to lead must learn it. Those geese, particularly in flight, offer some key lessons on teambuilding and leadership.
1) As it flaps its wings, each goose creates lift and lowers wind resistance for the one following it. By flying in that familiar V-formation, and maintaining it their entire journey, the flock adds 71% greater flying range than by flying alone.
Lesson learned: Imagine the strength of an advertising team assigned to create a promotional campaign, or a community trying to establish a recycling effort, both on the same page when it comes to a central idea or initiative. Groups sharing a common direction and drive reach goals or deadlines quicker and easier because they are travelling on each other's collective power.
2) Should it fall out of formation, the goose feels drag and resistance. As close as it is to the flock, this goose is still, logistically, flying alone. It must use more energy to fly. Once it feels that sudden drag, it immediately returns to formation, taking advantage of the lifting power provided by the bird in front of it.
Lesson learned: If we possess as much sense as geese, we will stay in step with those charged with the same task. In our professional lives, we sometimes fall out of formation, second-guessing our plan of action or wanting to jettison an idea without the team devoting adequate thought to the decision, or maximum effort to the task. We must be willing to accept the help and guidance of teammates and mentors, and give the same with ease.
3) When the lead goose becomes fatigued, it rotates back into the formation, and another goose takes the point position. The syncopated flapping of the entire flock's wings is interrupted but for seconds during this leadership change.
Lesson Three: This observation is a common motivational tool of sports coaches, employed to remind players that the team leader can't physically lead an entire game. Other players must be able to take control at different times during a game. In a work environment, the group certainly profits when each member practices interdependency, sharing the hard tasks like rotating the task of giving presentations among group members. In those cases where a team leader is designated at the outset of task delegation, that person shines when he or she creates opportunities for subordinates to learn how to and eventually lead. Knowing they may be called to the front at any time keeps that team energized, it's players eager to not only maximize skills and talents, but display their leadership potential.
4) The geese in the rear of the "V" honk from behind to encourage those in front to keep up their speed.
Lesson learned: When debating the group's performance of a task, noticing a teammate lagging behind on a commitment vital to the group's objective, or mentioning an error you've noticed in someone's PowerPoint presentation, ask yourself: Am I supporting, or hating on my co-worker? Make sure your "honking" is encouragement, advice, or motivation, nothing negative. In those tense moments, remember that a word of encouragement during down times sometimes goes farther than praise after a job well done.
5) When a goose becomes unable to continue its trek with the flock, at least two other geese will drop out of formation and accompany it to the ground for protection, helping the injured or sick goose however they can. They stay with that goose until it resumes flight or dies. In either case, those geese either catch up with their original flock, or join another formation.
Lesson learned: When working in a group, we must show as much teamwork and compassion for our team and dedication to its goals as those geese when they fly great distances during migration. To succeed, we should stand by each other and maintain collective strength in difficult periods as well as the productive times.
Book Debra for your next conference, training program, convention, or corporate retreat. From team building strategies in our uncertain economy to dynamic new opportunities in America to Global partnerships. Debra's message on Team Building, Customer Service, Diversity and Leadership will resonate with your employees, professional associations, students, or customer clientele. From National Conventions, to Employee Development, to Graduations, Debra will customize a message for your audience that will be engaging, interactive, and results-driven.
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