Yesterday, I was outside. Looking up, I marveled at the clouds and the gentle spring breezes....then I spotted the first V of geese. It's a thrill to see a V....I have to stop and watch the pattern of the geese working in concert with each other. I never remember seeing those V's when I was growing up-- so I still love seeing them in the sky. Then the next V....and the next.....I drove to the store....more V's, more geese. I saw a total of 10 different V's today---
I saw the last V while standing in the middle of a parking lot admiring the "changing of the front goose". One of my favorite leadership stories is how geese work together for the good of the flock. I'm sharing the Legend of the Geese with all of you so that you know why it's important for us to work together.
I believe in individual rights. I believe in people. I believe in nature. I believe in geese.
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The Legend of the Geese
When you see geese heading south for the winter (or north for the summer), flying along in a V-formation, you might be interested in knowing what scientists have discovered regarding why they fly that way...As each bird flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for the bird immediately following. By flying in a V-formation, the whole flock adds at least 71 percent greater flying range that if each bird flew on its own.
Basic Truth #1: People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going quicker and easier because they are traveling on each other’s thrust.
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 of it.
Basic Truth #2: If we take a tip from the geese, we will stay in formation with those who are heading in the same way we are going. When the lead goose gets tired, he rotates to the back and another goose flies point.
Basic Truth #3: It pays to take turns doing the hard jobs.
The geese honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their
speed.
Basic Truth #4: We respond to encouragement from others.
Finally, when a goose gets sick, or is wounded and falls out of formation, two geese fall out with him and follow him down to help and protect him. They stay with him until he is able to fly again or until he is dead, and then, they launch out on their own or with another formation to catch up with their group.
Basic Truth #5: If we follow the examples of the geese, we will stand by each other through difficulties and challenges.
When you see geese heading south for the winter (or north for the summer), flying along in a V-formation, you might be interested in knowing what scientists have discovered regarding why they fly that way...As each bird flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for the bird immediately following. By flying in a V-formation, the whole flock adds at least 71 percent greater flying range that if each bird flew on its own.
Basic Truth #1: People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going quicker and easier because they are traveling on each other’s thrust.
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 of it.
Basic Truth #2: If we take a tip from the geese, we will stay in formation with those who are heading in the same way we are going. When the lead goose gets tired, he rotates to the back and another goose flies point.
Basic Truth #3: It pays to take turns doing the hard jobs.
The geese honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their
speed.
Basic Truth #4: We respond to encouragement from others.
Finally, when a goose gets sick, or is wounded and falls out of formation, two geese fall out with him and follow him down to help and protect him. They stay with him until he is able to fly again or until he is dead, and then, they launch out on their own or with another formation to catch up with their group.
Basic Truth #5: If we follow the examples of the geese, we will stand by each other through difficulties and challenges.
The only problem with all of this grandiose thinking is the amount of goose "stuff" that a flock of geese generates. As a practical person, those geese can keep flying. So I guess my Basic Truth #6 (that Erin will add) is: Always beware of a situation that seems too good to be true. There's probably a little goose poop somewhere. But, with the help of your friends, you can get through most crap that's in your way. 
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