Good for the Goose Isn't Always Good for the Leader

You are probably aware of the Lessons from Geese leadership story: unity, teamwork, shared purpose, clear roles, everyone flying in lockstep from point A to point B. It is a good analogy,  but hardly  typical of  what happens in change leadership. What is needed is a very different set of skills:  creativity, risk-taking, mavericks courageous enough to challenge the v-formation.

Leading change is comparable to leading a group of explorers on Mars:  the map can be less than perfect, it will end up costing at least three times as much as you forecasted, and you cannot be sure where you will be after 30 days.  The one thing that gives the change leader freedom to sleep at night is knowing he or she has the right people – experts and professionals who have the freedom to communicate up with critical information and feedback when it looks like the team is off course. Change happens when every member actively participates in the process.

Successful change leadership  is impossible without the growth and development of  individual capabilities, attitudes and behavior.  Leaders go first and model the way to take calculated risks. The mantra to the team:  find a new way of doing things and do it at twice the normal rate.  That will definitely give you a guaranteed result of more mistakes!  Know that when you see mistakes during a change initiative these are signs that people are trying new things.  Change leaders know this and support this behavior. Very different behavior than flying in a v formation.

What’s good for the goose isn’t always good for the  leader.