How Can A Smelly, Hissing Goose Teach You To Be A Business Leader?

In the 1990's we lived on a farm in Iowa. Since I grew up in the country, I thought I knew everything there was to know about country living. Imagine my surprise at learning something life changing from a couple of old geese! When we obtained the farm I wanted to have the full experience so I began to collect animals. We acquired cats, dogs, chickens, an old horse, guineas and the pair of geese. I recall the wisdom that came from the animals. One such piece of wisdom was on leadership.

Leadership can be applied to our families, friends, business associates, co-workers and relatives. True leaders are not born, as we are often taught. True leaders are developed. True leaders find out what others want and then they weigh the best solution to create a win / win situation. Leaders face the challenges head-on and don't whine, 'It's too hard.' They take the time and energy required to develop their character, skills, philosophies, attitudes, and goals and then? Then they allow these things to be their guiding force. Fine leaders understand that others look up to them. They grasp the concept of this immense responsibility and joyfully take on the task. Good, bad or ugly.

So, how can a smelly pair of hissing geese teach you more about leadership? Well, on the farm we owned 4 acres of woods and at night it was crawling with opossum, raccoons and coyotes. Of course that meant that each night all the feathered animals would have to be secured in the chicken coop. The chickens and guineas didn't have a problem with going in at night. The geese? Well, they were another story!

The geese were stubborn. They had ideas of their own. They did not want to be told what to do.

Does this sound like anyone you know?

Each evening all five kids, two dogs and I would do the ritual "goose dance" where we would chase the geese with big sticks, brooms and any other intimidating item we could find. We would attempt to forcibly push and shoo them into the chicken coop. At times my husband would strategically suggest some new technique. Yet, NOTHING worked!

Barking, yelling and honking were standard sounds during the ritual goose dance. Finally we would manage to circle and herd the geese to the chicken coop door. They would reluctantly jump over the threshold and we would quickly and angrily slam the door shut behind them while shouting angry words and stomping toward the house. I was not happy.

The geese began to consume my thoughts. What motivated these stinking, stupid, stubborn birds? Why did they have such a mind of their own and why were they so...well....you know...difficult? Didn't they realize it was for their own protection and we were attempting to do what was best for them? After all, we KNEW what would happen if they stayed out at night. They would be goose dinner for some prowling animal in the woods.

I can't say as I blame them. No one likes to be told what to do. Pushing someone never works. No one likes to give up his or her freedom and ideas. Even if you realize something they don't and it is for their own good. Then it dawned on me that perhaps?..just perhaps, the geese were like people. Yeah?.maybe they had a mind and personality of their own. Maybe I needed to find out what they wanted. When I showed them how to get it, they would actually WANT to go into the coop. Maybe I could lead them. It was time to get creative!

That evening I opened a bag of corn and spilled a few kernels in front of the geese. They quickly waddled over and gobbled it up. I had found the answer! Woo Hoo!!!

I was in front of them?.I was leading them. They were following me! I took the corn and kernel by kernel, they followed me right into the coop! I ran out and slammed the door shut and this time, I smiled! No cursing, no anger. I was happy!

I took my stick and danced around with it?you know?John Travolta style. STAYIN ALIVE, STAYIN ALIVE???.AH AH AH AH?.STAYIN ALIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIVE. Living on a farm means no close neighbors monitoring your behavior so you tend to be...well, let's say...more?you know?uninhibited. I had just learned the power of leadership from a couple of stupid, hissing, stinking, annoying birds! I was so happy!

From that moment on the geese were led in each night. I was even able to teach my children to be "leaders". What a concept. Teaching others leadership.

Leadership is a skill. Skills can be learned?you don't have to be born a leader. If you want to become a strong leader, ask yourself, these questions:

What motivates your associates, employees and team members?

Are you attempting to get what YOU want by pushing or do you take time to find out what THEY want and then show them how to get it?

Are you bossing your team members or are you leading them in the right direction?

Are you creatively designing situations where everyone wins?

You never know, someday they might even thank you. After all?.anything is possible when you develop leadership skills!

(c) 2005 Michelle Shelton, All rights reserved

Michelle Shelton is a licensed REALTOR with Keller Williams Realty Southeast Valley in Gilbert, Arizona. Michelle specializes in teaching clients the entire process of Real Estate. She believes that the more educated her clients are, the less anxiety and stress they will have when buying or selling their home.

---

Top 7 Psychological Triggers For Unlimited Sales

Did you know that there are specific psychological triggers you... Read More

Sales Closing: Dont Close Sales - Open Relationships to Achieve Multiple Sales

A lot is written and talked about in regard to... Read More

A Sale in 30 Seconds? Its all in the Greeting

It has been said that a customer makes a decision... Read More

Close More Sales With This Very Simple 3 Step Sales Process.

As Financial Services Sales Professional you need to build trust... Read More

You CAN Be a Great Salesperson!

When you are in sales, you have the choice to... Read More

How to Sell a Feeling

To be totally in tune with the needs of your... Read More

9 TIPS: Dont Sell Me - Persuade Me

We all have something in our past we believe someone... Read More

Sales Performance and Motivation: How to Get Your Edge Back

Performance and motivation are like chocolate & peanut butter; the... Read More

Finding the Need is Only Part of the Sale

Many of us in sales are taught to believe that... Read More

Closing The Sale

Several weeks ago I asked my Newsletter subscribers to send... Read More

Do You Fold Like A Taco?

Have you ever eaten a soft taco? The shell isn't... Read More

Catapult Your Business?How to Get Customers to Chase You Instead of the Other Way Around

I was thinking about the statement:The Small Business Administration tells... Read More

Closing The Sale

So -- you've just gotten off of the phone with... Read More

How to Boost Your Sales Letter Conversion Rate

Emotion and reason mix very well together to make excellent... Read More

Sales Language: Whats Wrong with But?

Language is one of the most important tools you have... Read More

Transforming Problems into Sales

My silent fish tank was no more. Enough water had... Read More

When The Clock Strikes Twelve!

I just finished reading another sales copy ending with the... Read More

How To Win Business By Networking

In sales we do tend to become focused upon our... Read More

12 Sure-Fire Steps To Improve Your Retail Sales

The purpose of any business is to bring in customers,... Read More

In Sales The Biggest Rolodex Wins

How many names do you have in your business Rolodex?... Read More

Four Ways To Increase Your Sales Fast... In 2-4 Weeks?

You built a very good web site...You have a great... Read More

Turning Sales Techniques Into Sales Success!

The goal of all sales training is not just to... Read More

Nine Competencies of the Complete Sales Professional

Have you ever tried to explain to someone what you... Read More

Sales and the Law of Attraction

I'm about to challenge your belief system, or at least... Read More

Peak Performance

One of the best books I have ever read is... Read More

Practice Building: Create a Powerful and Targeted Call to Action for Your Prospects

A "Call To Action" is an invitation for your prospective... Read More

How Can A Smelly, Hissing Goose Teach You To Be A Business Leader?

In the 1990's we lived on a farm in Iowa.... Read More

Let Your Weaknesses Increase Your Sales

Imagine...you inquire about a product. The salesperson does everything right.... Read More

Get Over Your Resistance to Sales

I have found that there are two best ways to... Read More

Increase Sales - Overcoming Barriers

Ever thought to yourself, "If only my team members would... Read More

How A Dancing Horse Can Increase Your Sales

"Yeah right!" I thought to myself as I started to... Read More

Selling White Space

Almost all Internet Marketers have a basic idea of what... Read More

Sales 101: Asking for the Order

"Ask, and you shall receive", a biblical principal that offers... Read More