Here are five lessons from Canadian Geese about being proactive in groups. What they do is very practical and applies to leadership in many ways.  Canadian geese fly south in the winter and back north in the spring but they cannot do it alone.

1. As each goose flaps its wings it creates an‘uplift’ for the birds that follow. By flying in a ‘V’ formation, the whole flocks adds 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew alone.

Lesson: 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.

2. The geese flying in formation honk to encourage those up front to keep up their speed. This provides encouragement against greater odds and distances. They can fly 4-5 hours without stopping.

Lesson: We need to make sure our honking is encouraging. In groups where there is encouragement, the production is much greater. The power of encouragement (to stand by one’s heart or core values and encourage the heart and core values of others) is the quality of honking we seek. What does our honking sound from behind?

3. When a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of flying alone. It quickly moves back into formation. It moves back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front of it.

Lesson: If we have as much sense as a goose we stay in formation with those headed where we want to go. We are willing to accept our help and give help to others.

4. When the lead goose tires, it rotates back into formation and another goose flies to the point position.

Lesson: It pays to take turns during the hard tasks and sharing leadership. As with geese, people are interdependent on each others’ skills, capabilities and unique arrangement of gifts, talents or resources.

5. When a goose gets sick, wounded or shot down, two geese drop out of formation and follow it down to help protect it. They stay with it until it dies or is able to fly again. Then they launch out with another formation or catch up with the flock.

Lesson: If we have as much sense as geese, we will stand by each other in difficult times as when we are strong. And move forward as a community.

How will your organization change if your people behaved this way?  Let me know what you think about this.  Twitter @drgbanks.