This might sound a little weird but I’ve been thinking alot about geese lately.
The theme for installation of our 2023-2024 Upper Keys BPW Board of Directors on May 17 was a ‘Gaggle of Geese’.
Our immediate past President Suzi Youngberg– who led the installation ceremony with past President Ilja Chapman– covered four lessons we can take from geese:
1. When a gaggle of geese fly in formation, each bird flaps her wings and creates uplift for the bird following.
The whole flock has a 71% longer flying range than if each bird flew alone.*
And just like the birds, people who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going quicker and easier when they travel on the trust of one another.
2. 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.
If we have as much sense as a goose, we will stay in formation with those who are headed where we want to go.
3. When the lead goose gets tired, it rotates back into formation and another goose takes over at the point position.
It pays to take turns at hard tasks and sharing leadership, because people, like geese, are dependent on each other.
4. The geese in the formation honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.
Let's make sure that our ‘honking from behind’ is encouraging, supportive, helpful – not demanding or discouraging.
I’m so grateful for Suzi, Ilja, all members of our outgoing Board and those who’ve agreed to lead our organization for the next year.
I hope we’ll have as much sense as the geese, flying together and going far in support of working women in our community.
Warm regards,
Jill
Jill Kuehnert
Upper Keys BPW President
(305) 767-3928
*I have not googled this so cannot offer a citation. But it sounds good, right?
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