Who's in Your V?

At Aberlady Bay Nature Reserve, not far from Scene & Herd's East Lothian headquarters, around 30,000 pink-footed geese, flock here from Iceland and Greenland each autumn.  Quite often, I hear them before I see them.

You've undoubtedly seen a V-shaped skein of geese flying overhead, a powerful image of teamwork and efficiency. Did you know they rotate positions within that formation? The lead goose battles the strongest headwinds, taking the brunt of the resistance. When that leader tires, they drop back, and another goose takes their place. This constant rotation allows the entire flock to conserve energy and fly farther, together. It's a beautiful example of distributed leadership, and a powerful metaphor for building a successful business.

So, I ask you: who's in your V?

In the business world, we often talk about leadership, but we sometimes get caught up in the idea of a single, all-powerful figurehead. The geese remind us that true leadership is about shared responsibility and recognising the strengths of every member of the team. It's about understanding that everyone has their time to lead, and everyone has their time to support.

Think about your own organisation...

...Do you have a structure that allows for this kind of dynamic leadership? Are you fostering an environment where individuals feel empowered to step up and take the lead when their expertise is needed? Or... are you clinging to a hierarchical model where only a select few get to call the shots?

Here are a few questions to consider:

• Do you recognise the diverse skills and talents within your team? Just like the geese, each member of your team brings unique strengths to the table. Are you leveraging those strengths effectively? Are you giving people opportunities to shine in their areas of expertise?
• Do you encourage shared responsibility? A single goose can't fly the entire journey alone. Similarly, no one person can carry the entire weight of a business on their shoulders. Are you fostering a culture of shared ownership and accountability?
• Do you provide opportunities for growth and development? The geese don't just instinctively know how to fly in formation. They learn and adapt over time. Are you investing in the growth and development of your team members, giving them the skills and experience they need to take on leadership roles?
• Do you celebrate collective success? The geese reach their destination together. In business, it's crucial to celebrate wins as a team, recognising the contributions of everyone involved. This fosters a sense of camaraderie and motivates everyone to keep pushing forward.

Building a "V formation" within your business isn't about eliminating hierarchy altogether. It's about creating a system where leadership is fluid and adaptable, where individuals are empowered to contribute their best work, and where everyone understands their role in achieving collective success. It's about recognising that sometimes you're leading the charge, sometimes you're providing support, and sometimes you're learning from others.

So, take a moment to look at your team. Who's in your V? Are you maximising the collective potential of your team by embracing the principles of distributed leadership?

Over the years, we've been lucky to have worked with many businesses (you can see some of them here).  If you need some Scene and Herd advice on branding, podcasting, social media or any other aspect of marketing your business, please get in touch - we'd love to be part of your V!

By learning from the geese, you can create a more resilient, efficient, and ultimately, more successful organisation. Now, go out there and fly!