Life
21st Century Leader
By Christopher Duff
“There is something I have always been extremely fascinated about. It’s why geese fly in a V-Formation. There was a study done sometime back. This study discovered that birds flying in a V format had lower heart rates than bird flying alone. Why? The aerodynamic V shape formation reduces the air drag (air resistance) that each bird experiences when in flight in comparison to a bird flying solo.
This allows them to cover longer distance (thousands of miles) with much less effort. For example, geese can achieve a greater distance of about 70 percent when flying in groups than each flying solo, using the same amount of energy. In this formation, the bird in the lead position will experience a greater air resistance and will have to work a little harder, however, when the lead bird is tired it falls out of position and goes behind into one of the V position lines.
This enjoyment of less air resistance comes as a result of the birds in front creating and improving the aerodynamics of the others behind which continues along the line of V. In other words, this formation breaks up the air, which then flows over the rest of the group more easily. This means all birds benefit individually while working harmoniously as a team.
I believe there is so much to learn in this. In some areas of my life I’m in a position of authority. And that’s great! But as I’m beginning to understand people more, I’m also beginning to understand leadership much better. However, I continue to see a recurring, fundamental problem. When companies, churches and other organizations place individuals in these ‘positions of authority’ or leadership roles, they train them to lead the organization to whatever success may be defined as. And this can yield some great results but I don’t believe this is the approach of a 21st Century leader.
There is a significant difference between a leader and a manager. And more organizations need to revamp their training programs to create stronger leaders and not just better managers or overseers.
While working at various places like Sears, McDonalds and others, I began to realize that the store manager was trained to manage the business not lead people.
To get to where they were, they just needed to ‘know’ more than the people that were under them. It has always been a matter of using the people as executors; people who carried out a given task. And when you think about it, that’s how many organizations are structured.
