What Can You Learn From Geese?

One of Kylie and Lola’s favorite things to do is to go to Lake Merritt, near our home, and feed the geese.

From all of our times feeding the geese Dave and I noticed there’s power in a gaggle of geese that you just don’t find in a lone goose. For example:

Fact: As each goose flaps its wings, it creates lift for the bird following. By flying in a “V” formation, the whole flock adds 71% greater flying range than if one goose flew alone.

Lesson: Those who share a common direction and sense of unity can get where they’re going quicker and easier because they’re drawing strength from each other.

Fact: When a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to fly alone, and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird in front.

Lesson: Stay in formation with those who are headed where we want to go; be willing to accept their help and give help to others.

Fact: When the lead goose gets tired, it rotates back into the formation and another goose flies at the point position.

Lesson: It pays to take turns doing the hard tasks and sharing leadership. People, like geese, are interdependent on each other.

Fact: Geese look after each other. If one gets sick or wounded, two geese follow it down to protect and feed it until it either recovers or dies.

Lesson: Stand by each other in difficult times as well as in good times.

And when you hear those geese honking? They’re offering encouragement to their leader, something everyone – not just leaders – needs!