Silly goose?

Do animals have anything to teach us about business leadership? We wouldn’t want to send you on a wild goose chase but consider this. As reported in the New York Times article,"Even Among Animals: Leaders, Followers and Schmoozers", a recent study published in Animal Behavior found that the most important determinant of leadership among geese isn’t size or gender or social dominance but boldness. A goose with the chutzpah to investigate unfamiliar objects or situations in search of food is likely to be top dog among the goose set. The lesson for humans with leadership aspirations is clear: be bold. Don’t be afraid to seize new ideas or opportunities where others might hesitate – unless, of course, the morsel you stumble across happens to be a new idea for a credit default swap or other such exotic financial instruments. In that case, we suggest you make like a gazelle surprised by a lion. In the human world, as in the animal, a goose can be silly and discretion is sometimes the better part of valour.