Team Lessons from Geese

As each bird flaps its wings, it creates uplift for the bird following. By flying is a “V” formation, the whole flock adds 71% more to its flying range than if each bird flew alone.

Lesson: Teammates who share a common direction an sense of community can get where they’re going quicker and easier when they travel on shared power.

Team Lessons from Geese

When the lead goose tires, it rotates back into the formation and another goose flies at the point position.

Lesson: It pays to take turns doing the hard tasks and sharing the leader’s role.

Team Lessons from Geese

In formation, the geese from behind honk to encourage those in front to keep up their speed.

Lesson: Sometimes team members need to hear a little

honking.

Team Lessons from Geese

Whenever a goose is sick or wounded, two geese drop out of formation to help and protect it. They stay with it until it can fly again or dies.

Lesson: Stand by one another in times of trouble.

Team Lessons From Geese - Adapted from 40 Tools for Cross-Functional Teams, Walter J. Michalski. Productivity Press. 541 NE 20th Ave, Portland, OR 97232

NCODP - Team Building

SFC Todd Sanbury

CIO/DSS Operations

3rd Platoon Sergeant

Team Building

• Why are we talking about Team Building?

– Team Building (Soldier-Team Development) is an integral part of being a Non-Commissioned Officer.

LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES

Communication

Supervision

Teaching and

Counseling

Soldier Team

Development

Technicaland Tactical Proficiency

Decision Making

Planning

Use of available

systems

Professional ethics

TC 22-6, Pg 18

Team Building

• What is a Team?

– Dictionary defines a Team as

“ a group organized to work together”

Team Building

• There is no “I” in T E A M

• Being a member of a team is being part of the “we”, not being the “me”

Team Building

• What does this have to do with me?

– FM 22-100, Paragraph 1-62 states:

No one is only a leader; each of you is also a subordinate, and all members of the Army are part of a team.

What is a ‘Good’ Team?

• Work together to accomplish the mission

• Execute tasks thoroughly and quickly

• Meet or exceed the standard

• Thrive on demanding challenges

• Learn from their experiences and are proud of their accomplishments

FM 22-100, Pg 5-19

OK…So how do we make a team?

• 3 Stages to building a Team

• Formation Stage

• Enrichment Stage

• Sustainment Stage

Fig 5.5 of FM 22-100

Formation Stage

• Reception and Orientation Phase

• Leader’s Welcome

• New Soldier meets the rest of the Team

• Learn the schedule and work requirements

• Get to know ‘the lay of the land’

• New Soldier is concerned about fitting in and belonging

Leader Actions during Formation

• Coordinate reception of new soldier(s)

• Assign Sponsor

• LISTEN TO THE NEW SOLDIER

• TALK TO THE NEW SOLDIER

• Make sure the soldier’s family is taken care of

Fig 5.5 of FM 22-100

Enrichment Stage

• Transition from questioning everything to trusting themselves, their peers, and their leaders

• Most important part is TRAINING

• Vital during Enrichment Stage…it is here that the team is building a collective proficiency

Leader Actions during Enrichment

• LISTEN to your soldiers

• Establish clear lines of authority

• Develop soldier and unit goals

Fig 5.5 of FM 22-100

Sustainment Stage

• The point where the group thinks of themselves as “our Team”

• Team members will do what needs to be done without being told

• Leader uses this stage to develop subordinates, because they are the future leaders

Leader Actions during Sustainment

• Deal with the change in the team

• Reassess Goals and Priorities

• Focus on Teamwork

• Focus on Training

• Respond to Soldier Concerns

A Final Quote:

It is difficult to be a good Non-Commissioned Officer, if it had been easy, they would have given it to the Officer Corps.

– Sergeant Major of the Army Connelly

Quote from ‘The Three Meter Zone” by CSM J.D. Pendry

As MSG Dettler used to say...

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