Letter
from Dr. Gilbert
Spring,
2007
Dear Visitor,
I
am glad you are visiting our site and hope you’ll come back.
This is the first of what I hope will be many occasional
communications from me about our work, the Center and Bowen theory.
This message was inspired when I read an article that our
webmaster, Jeannette Gibson wrote in her capacity as outgoing president of our
Chamber of Commerce, for its newsletter, here in our little town of Mt. Jackson
in the wonderful Shenandoah Valley of Virginia.
As you’ll see, her message was all about geese. Since I have
used the lead goose in the “V” formation frequently in my teaching slides, and on our brochures for Extraordinary Leadership
Seminars, it really got my attention. There is so much food for thought in the
piece that I reprint it here, just as Jeannette wrote it.
We all have much to learn from the geese.
I usually use this space to let you know what the
Chamber has been doing and the plans for the future. With about 10 weeks left
of my presidency, I wanted to write something different and from the heart.
This year has been full of victories and defeats, joys and frustrations,
laughter and tears. I wasn’t quite sure how to relate this to you until I was
working at the bowling alley last night. I came across a tattered, 20 year old
paper, stuck between the cabinets. I thought it was trash, but after opening it
up and reading it, the old piece of paper turned out to be a treasure. I think
it says it all.
Lessons
from Geese" by
Milton Olson
As
each bird flaps its wings, it creates an “uplift” for
the bird following. By flying in a “v” formation, the whole flock adds 71%
greater flying range than if the 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.
Whenever 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 immediately in front.
Lesson:
If we have as much sense as a goose, we will stay in formation with those who
are headed where we want to go (and be willing to accept their help as well as
give ours to the others.)
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. With people
as geese, we are interdependent on each other.
The geese in formation honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up
their speed.
Lesson:
We need to make sure our honking from behind is encouraging- and not something
else.
When a goose gets sick or wounded, two geese drop out of formation and follow it
down to help and protect it. They stay with it until it is able to fly again or
dies. Then they launch out on their own, with another formation or catch up with
the flock.
Lesson:
If we have as much sense as geese, we too will stand by each other in difficult
times as well as when we are strong. Interdependence!
Jeannette
Gibson
President
As I said before, we all have much to learn from
the geese!
Sincerely yours,