Comments on: Migrating Geese – A Lesson in Leadership and Collaboration http://www.tanveernaseer.com/migrating-geese-a-lesson-in-leadership-and-collaboration/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=migrating-geese-a-lesson-in-leadership-and-collaboration Business Coach and Writer Wed, 16 May 2012 16:14:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Tanveer Naseerhttp://www.tanveernaseer.com/migrating-geese-a-lesson-in-leadership-and-collaboration/#comment-1826 Tanveer Naseer Sat, 08 May 2010 16:08:48 +0000 http://www.tanveernaseer.com/?p=6133#comment-1826 Hi Landon, Thanks for your comment and welcome. I appreciate Gwyn pointing you in this direction. Your point about the necessity of internal promotions in the Navy brings up an interesting parallel between business and military institutions. While the Navy understandably has no choice but to promote from within, companies would also be best served by looking more within their ranks for their future leaders for a couple of reasons. First, by bringing someone up from within, you're ensuring that those who will be in charge in the future truly understand the culture or soul of your company. Second, by drawing your new leadership from within, companies demonstrate clearly that they are looking at helping their employees grow and develop their careers and abilities. Of course, there are times where bringing in someone from the outside is necessary, like when a company is suffering from stagnation/lack of direction or if those at the front lines prefer staying there over having to play a more senior role. Regardless, what's key is making sure that employees have the opportunity to grow in whatever capacity they can and that there's this understanding of there being a true sense of team cohesion shown by looking out for one another so that the organization as a whole can succeed in reaching its objectives. Thanks again for sharing your experiences, Landon. And I'm glad to welcome you as a new reader of this blog. Hi Landon,

Thanks for your comment and welcome. I appreciate Gwyn pointing you in this direction.

Your point about the necessity of internal promotions in the Navy brings up an interesting parallel between business and military institutions. While the Navy understandably has no choice but to promote from within, companies would also be best served by looking more within their ranks for their future leaders for a couple of reasons. First, by bringing someone up from within, you’re ensuring that those who will be in charge in the future truly understand the culture or soul of your company. Second, by drawing your new leadership from within, companies demonstrate clearly that they are looking at helping their employees grow and develop their careers and abilities.

Of course, there are times where bringing in someone from the outside is necessary, like when a company is suffering from stagnation/lack of direction or if those at the front lines prefer staying there over having to play a more senior role.

Regardless, what’s key is making sure that employees have the opportunity to grow in whatever capacity they can and that there’s this understanding of there being a true sense of team cohesion shown by looking out for one another so that the organization as a whole can succeed in reaching its objectives.

Thanks again for sharing your experiences, Landon. And I’m glad to welcome you as a new reader of this blog.

]]> By: Landon Creasyhttp://www.tanveernaseer.com/migrating-geese-a-lesson-in-leadership-and-collaboration/#comment-1823 Landon Creasy Sat, 08 May 2010 05:08:55 +0000 http://www.tanveernaseer.com/?p=6133#comment-1823 Hi Tanveer, Great post - lots to think about. As a naval officer, I spend a lot of time trying to foster leadership within the junior folks in the organization. By placing them in leadership roles (taking charge of small teams etc) we can provide them with the opportunities to demonstrate the very things you have so nicely identified from the V-formation of geese. Once we spot someone willing to step up, we provide more opportunities for growth - absolutely critical for us because we have to be self-sustaining; all internal promotions, you see. As a result of your post, I'll think nicer thoughts towards the birds. Maybe even after they practice their coordinated attack on my parked car :) Gwyn Teatro was kind enough to visit my blog and suggest I come here for a look. I have to say, I'll definitely be back! Love the layout as well. Cheers, Landon Creasy http://landoncreasy.wordpress.com/ .-= Landon Creasy´s last blog ..<a href="http://landoncreasy.wordpress.com/2010/05/07/7-great-leadership-blogs/" rel="nofollow">7 Great Leadership Blogs</a> =-. Hi Tanveer,
Great post – lots to think about. As a naval officer, I spend a lot of time trying to foster leadership within the junior folks in the organization. By placing them in leadership roles (taking charge of small teams etc) we can provide them with the opportunities to demonstrate the very things you have so nicely identified from the V-formation of geese. Once we spot someone willing to step up, we provide more opportunities for growth – absolutely critical for us because we have to be self-sustaining; all internal promotions, you see.

As a result of your post, I’ll think nicer thoughts towards the birds. Maybe even after they practice their coordinated attack on my parked car :)

Gwyn Teatro was kind enough to visit my blog and suggest I come here for a look. I have to say, I’ll definitely be back! Love the layout as well.

Cheers,
Landon Creasy
http://landoncreasy.wordpress.com/
.-= Landon Creasy´s last blog ..7 Great Leadership Blogs =-.

]]> By: Tanmay Vorahttp://www.tanveernaseer.com/migrating-geese-a-lesson-in-leadership-and-collaboration/#comment-1809 Tanmay Vora Thu, 06 May 2010 16:50:06 +0000 http://www.tanveernaseer.com/?p=6133#comment-1809 Hi Tanveer - a great post again. Watching geese flying in "V" shape is not only fascinating, but makes me wonder how well these birds collaborate with each other. They do it in a way that we humans often find difficult to do as humans. Unlike us, they have no egos, no hierarchies - just a mission to reach their destination. .-= Tanmay Vora´s last blog ..<a href="http://qaspire.com/blog/?p=872" rel="nofollow">‘Commitment to Quality’ and Organic Nature of Improvement</a> =-. Hi Tanveer – a great post again. Watching geese flying in “V” shape is not only fascinating, but makes me wonder how well these birds collaborate with each other. They do it in a way that we humans often find difficult to do as humans. Unlike us, they have no egos, no hierarchies – just a mission to reach their destination.
.-= Tanmay Vora´s last blog ..‘Commitment to Quality’ and Organic Nature of Improvement =-.

]]> By: Tanveer Naseerhttp://www.tanveernaseer.com/migrating-geese-a-lesson-in-leadership-and-collaboration/#comment-1810 Tanveer Naseer Thu, 06 May 2010 16:48:08 +0000 http://www.tanveernaseer.com/?p=6133#comment-1810 It's funny that you mention my previous post on taking time out to think, Jimmy, as it was during one of those moments when I decided to take a walk to reflect that I spotted this flock of geese flying overhead. It's always an amazing site to see, but being in that reflective state also made me aware of how much they were working as a team, with the lead bird taking the brunt of air resistance so the others could fly with more ease until another one stepped up to take the lead so the first bird could rest. The act of collaboration is becoming more scare these days, thanks to employees being more overworked due to the layoffs of former colleagues, as well as an understandable fear that helping others might keep them safe, but cause your own neck to be put out on the line. It's times like these where leadership needs to come to the fore and, like the lead geese in the flock, help take some of this pressure off with the understanding that in working as a team, each person in the organization has each other's back. By the way, a little over a week ago, we had snow(!) on the ground. So yes, I'm delighted that I can count with certainty that Spring is here. :) Thanks for the great comment, Jimmy. And do let me know what the person you gave this speech about the geese has to say about this piece. I'd love to hear their thoughts. It’s funny that you mention my previous post on taking time out to think, Jimmy, as it was during one of those moments when I decided to take a walk to reflect that I spotted this flock of geese flying overhead. It’s always an amazing site to see, but being in that reflective state also made me aware of how much they were working as a team, with the lead bird taking the brunt of air resistance so the others could fly with more ease until another one stepped up to take the lead so the first bird could rest.

The act of collaboration is becoming more scare these days, thanks to employees being more overworked due to the layoffs of former colleagues, as well as an understandable fear that helping others might keep them safe, but cause your own neck to be put out on the line. It’s times like these where leadership needs to come to the fore and, like the lead geese in the flock, help take some of this pressure off with the understanding that in working as a team, each person in the organization has each other’s back.

By the way, a little over a week ago, we had snow(!) on the ground. So yes, I’m delighted that I can count with certainty that Spring is here. :)

Thanks for the great comment, Jimmy. And do let me know what the person you gave this speech about the geese has to say about this piece. I’d love to hear their thoughts.

]]> By: Jim Matorinhttp://www.tanveernaseer.com/migrating-geese-a-lesson-in-leadership-and-collaboration/#comment-1808 Jim Matorin Thu, 06 May 2010 15:25:08 +0000 http://www.tanveernaseer.com/?p=6133#comment-1808 A great lesson. I first heard the geese analogy back in 1992 when I was with the Campbell Soup Company. I am glad you bought this back to life. So much has changed since then Tanveer. Specifically the communications overload in the C-Suite. Therefore, just like you shared in your previous blog re: taking time out to think, leaders need to take time out to make sure their team is collaborating, because in most cases they are not based on what I am witnessing. People are just trying to stay above water. Collaboration is also important now with the advent of all the social media platforms. Leaders need to make sure all their people are collaborating and communicating outward within and beyond the walls the same message. Once last thought: It is May 6th and you are looking for signs that spring has finally arrived. Glad I do not live up north. Just kidding! Thank you for sharing this great analogy. I am going to fire it off to the individual that made the geese speech. It will make his day. Jimmy A great lesson. I first heard the geese analogy back in 1992 when I was with the Campbell Soup Company. I am glad you bought this back to life. So much has changed since then Tanveer. Specifically the communications overload in the C-Suite. Therefore, just like you shared in your previous blog re: taking time out to think, leaders need to take time out to make sure their team is collaborating, because in most cases they are not based on what I am witnessing. People are just trying to stay above water. Collaboration is also important now with the advent of all the social media platforms. Leaders need to make sure all their people are collaborating and communicating outward within and beyond the walls the same message.

Once last thought: It is May 6th and you are looking for signs that spring has finally arrived. Glad I do not live up north. Just kidding!

Thank you for sharing this great analogy. I am going to fire it off to the individual that made the geese speech. It will make his day.

Jimmy

]]> By: Tanveer Naseerhttp://www.tanveernaseer.com/migrating-geese-a-lesson-in-leadership-and-collaboration/#comment-1811 Tanveer Naseer Thu, 06 May 2010 13:07:05 +0000 http://www.tanveernaseer.com/?p=6133#comment-1811 Thanks Tanmay; I appreciate that. What's amazing about geese is how they're not interested in individual achievement or gaining an upper edge over others in the flock. Instead, their focus is reaching a shared goal and they know they can't make it unless they all actively participate, as well as making sure they come to the aid of those who are having difficulties because they know this will impact all of them. Some pretty powerful stuff that we can really benefit from learning and applying in our own interactions as well. Thanks again Tanmay for sharing your thoughts on this piece. Thanks Tanmay; I appreciate that.

What's amazing about geese is how they're not interested in individual achievement or gaining an upper edge over others in the flock. Instead, their focus is reaching a shared goal and they know they can't make it unless they all actively participate, as well as making sure they come to the aid of those who are having difficulties because they know this will impact all of them. Some pretty powerful stuff that we can really benefit from learning and applying in our own interactions as well.

Thanks again Tanmay for sharing your thoughts on this piece.

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