Last week was about ducks and leadership.  This week we’d like to reflect on geese and leadership.

One interesting aspect about leadership is the concept of strength.  Often when we think of strength we think of muscles and power.  We sometimes think that strong leaders are the ones who can carry the weight of the world on their shoulders like Atlas.  This isn’t necessarily true.  A strong leader is one with a vision and a purpose, but there is also much more than that.

A strong leader is like a goose. Geese assemble themselves in a V formation, understanding that working together allows them to go farther than they could go alone.  This only works if everyone plays their role.

Where the strength comes in for the geese is that the leader is strong enough to know that they can’t lead the charge on their own.  The lead goose flaps and flies, leading the group as far as they can, and then when their strength is fading they drop back in the formation.  Their strength comes not from their might, but from their willingness to allow others to lead.  As someone else leads the V formation, the other geese are not silent.  They consistently honk, encouraging the leader to keep going.  It takes strength to rid yourself of your own ego and dedicate yourself to lifting someone else up.

Now think of work.  How do you measure strength when it comes to leaders?  Think of all of the leaders who have to be the center of attention, who have to feel like they are the ones carrying the movement.  This is how they operate.  Do you want to follow people like that?  Do you know any leaders who are like geese?  Can you think of the people who carry the load, but are strong enough to let other people lead the movement?  These are the people who give purpose, vision, direction, and so much encouragement that sooner or later you begin to fly.

We are trying to change as an organization.  It will take a long time and we will have to travel a long distance.  There’s an African proverb, “If you want to go fast, go alone.  If you want to go far, go together.”  If we want to go far we will need our own V formation, and we will need leaders as strong as geese to guide us there.  Are you brave and strong enough to be a goose?

Have a jolly good day,

Andrew Embry