Geese, Systems and Change That Sticks
On my morning walk, I spotted a line of geese confidently using the crosswalk.
Of course, they weren’t following traffic rules, they were instinctively choosing a clear, safe path with good visibility. Research shows that urban geese adapt this way, navigating roads by selecting the most reliable routes.
That moment reminded me: the best systems work so intuitively they serve broader purposes than originally designed. Much like analytical professionals whose insights, when positioned as strategy, extend far beyond traditional change management.
Why Geese (and Analysts) Don’t Rush
Geese don’t always fly over obstacles. They walk when it’s safer systematically, with full awareness of their surroundings.
Analytical professionals approach change the same way: methodically, prioritizing sustainable progress over speed. But too often, leaders mistake this thoughtful approach as “resistance.”
I once worked with a senior analyst who raised implementation concerns during a rollout. She was dismissed as resistant. Six months later, her exact points caused a $2M delay. That wasn’t resistance; it was intelligence.
The Hidden Cost of “Just Fly Over It”
Most change programs prize quick consensus. But bypassing careful analysis means organizations miss dependencies, risks, and ripple effects. These are the very insights analytical minds excel at surfacing.
Dismiss that perspective, and you don’t just overlook resistance, you overlook strategic intelligence.
Systems Thinking in Action
Research on urban geese shows remarkable group coordination and risk assessment. They learn, adapt, and return to proven routes year after year.
Analytical professionals bring this same systems intelligence: seeing interconnections others miss and building pathways that sustain transformation over time.
The Real Leadership Gap
Organizations spend billions teaching leaders to “decide faster” or “embrace ambiguity.” But the real opportunity? Developing analytical minds into change champions who can bridge technical insight with sustainable transformation.
That’s where the long-term advantage lies.
Three Questions for Your Next Transformation
Before your next initiative, ask:
Who are the analytical minds raising thoughtful questions—and how can we develop them as champions, not obstacles?
What if adoption was designed for systematic thinkers instead of quick implementers?
Where might “resistance” actually be organizational intelligence worth listening to?
The Compound Effect
Just like geese guiding their flocks along proven paths, analytical leaders who become change champions create patterns of transformation that last, and spread.
