Flight of the Buffalo: Soaring to Excellence, Learning to Let Employees Lead

Then one day I got it. What I really wanted in the organization was a group of responsible, interdependent workers, similar to a flock of geese, like in the figure above. I could see the geese flying in their “V” formation, the leadership changing frequently, with different geese taking the lead. I saw every goose being responsible for getting itse

The worst mistake may be the best learning opportunity.

being a leader requires continual learning.

The Product Name Must Paint the Picture

Learning New Leadership Patterns Isn't What You Know, It's What You Do

QUESTION: What do I have to learn to lead in this new age? LEADERSHIP SOLUTION: Learn the new paradigm today—and get ready to learn a new one tomorrow.

The past can't be managed. It is already gone. I saw that I needed to help people manage the work they did today, not yesterday.

“You never asked,” he said. “Your people were so busy selling me that they had no time left over to listen.” So much for being smarter than the customer. Without knowing what value is for customers, it's impossible to deliver it consistently.

Sharing my fear helped to both disarm any opposition and to avoid cover-up behavior.