May 17, 2008
Leadership Lessons from Geese
Fact 1: As each goose flaps its wings it creates an “uplift” for the birds that follow. By flying in a “V” formation, the whole flock 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.
Fact 2: When a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of flying alone. It quickly 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 their help and give our help to others.
Fact 3: When the lead goose tires, it rotates back into the formation and another goose flies to the point position.
Lesson: It pays to take turns doing the hard tasks and sharing leadership. As with geese, people are interdependent on each other’s skills, capabilities and unique arrangements of gifts, talents or resources.
Fact 4: The geese flying in formation honk to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.
Lesson: We need to make sure 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 of others) is the quality of honking we seek.
Fact 5: When a goose gets sick, wounded, or shot down, two geese drop out of formation and follow it down to help and 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 well as when we are strong.
Know Your Employees
On walking into the factory, the MD noticed a young guy leaning against the wall, doing nothing. He approached the young man and calmly said to him, How much do you earn?”The young man was quite amazed that he was asked such a personal question, he replied, none the less, “I earn $ 2000.00 a month, Sir. Why?”
Without answering, the MD took out his wallet and removed $ 6000.00 cash And gave it to the young man and said, “Around here
I pay people for working, not for standing around looking pretty! Here is 3 months ’salary, now GET OUT and don’t come back”.
The young man turned around and was quickly out of sight. Noticing a Few onlookers, the MD said in a very upset manner, “And that applies for everybody in this company”.
He approached one of the onlookers and asked him, “Who’s the young man that
I just fired?” To which an amazing reply came of, “He was the pizza delivery man, Sir…!!!”
Moral: To make your business successfull, you must know your employee
Boat Race
The Americans and the Japanese decided to engage in a competitive boat race. Both teams practiced hard and long to reach their peak performance. On the big day they felt ready.
The Japanese won by a mile. Afterward, the American team was discouraged by the loss. Morale sagged. Corporate management decided that the reason for the crushing defeat had to be found, so a consulting firm was hired to investigate the problem and recommended corrective action.
The consultant’s finding: The Japanese team had eight people rowing and one person steering; the American team had one person rowing and eight people steering.
After a year of study and millions spent analyzing the problem, the consultant firm concluded that too many people were steering and not enough were rowing on the American team.
So as race day neared again the following year, the American team’s management structure was completely reorganized. The new structure: four steering managers, three area steering managers and a new performance review system for the person rowing the boat to provide work incentive.
The next year, the Japanese won by two miles. Humiliated, the American corporation laid off the rower for poor performance and gave the managers a bonus for discovering the problem….
Library Usage Guidelines
Issue of Books:
1 Each student can borrow upto a maximum of two books against his / her card for a period of seven days.
2. A book may be renewed for a further period of seven days, provided the book has not been reserved by other users. Books have to be produced in the library counter for renewal.
3. If a book is returned after the due date, Rs.2/- shall be levied as fine per day upto seven days, and Rs.5/- per day beyond 7 days.
4. Reference books will not be issued to the students for reading at home. However, students are free to refer such books in the library. For overnight reference however, such books may be issued after 6 p.m only.
5. If a book is overdue, no book will be issued against and until the over due book is returned and fine remitted.
6. If a student does not return a book even after three successive reminders of every five days, he/she is liable to pay the cost of the book.
7. No student is permitted to borrow magazines/journals for overnight.
8. Each student can borrow one CD-ROM against his / her card for a period of two days.
9. If a CD-ROM is returned after the due date, Rs.5/- shall be levied as fine per day.
