THE SENSE OF A GOOSE

A Reflection of Working Together

IN SPRING, when you see geese heading north for the summer, flying in a V-formation, you may be interested to know what scientists have discovered about why they fly that way.  It has been learnt that 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% greater flying ability than if each bird flew on its own.

BASIC TRUTH 1:

People who share a common direction and a sense of communication get where they are going more quickly and more easily because they are travelling on the trust of one another.

BASIC TRUTH 2:

If we have even as much sense as a goose, we will stay in formation with those who are headed in the same way as we are going.

When the lead goose gets tired, that goose rotates to the back and another goose takes up the lead.

BASIC TRUTH 3:

It pays to take turns doing difficult tasks.

The geese honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep their speed, or reduce it.

BASIC TRUTH 4:

We need to be careful what we say when we honk from behind.

Finally, when a goose gets sick or is wounded by gunshot or falls out, two geese immediately fall out from the formation and fly down to help and protct the one in trouble. They stay with the disabled goose until it is able to fly again or until it dies.

BASIC TRUTH 5:

If we have the sense of a goose we will stand by one another.