Teamwork and cooperation can help devotees progress spiritually. Like geese flying in a V formation, working together can make the journey easier. Lessons can be learned from geese: (1) Sharing direction and working as a team gets us to our destination quicker; (2) Staying with others going in the same direction reduces effort; (3) Leadership can be shared through mutual respect; (4) Encouragement motivates and strengthens others. By bonding together in a spirit of teamwork, devotees can rise to meet challenges and please Srila Prabhupada despite differences.

1. Team Playing and
Co-operation

2. Team Spirit - Cooperation
Celebrating Diversity and
Interdependence for Team Spirit
Four “cancers” that are detrimental to synergy :
Criticism, Complaint,
Comparison, Competition
Too much dependance
- stunted creativity
Too much independence
- instability
Interdependence - best option
- emotional bonds
eg Krishna-Sudama

3. GROUP
TEAM
1. Everyone thinks about his own 1. All of them think as one unit, the
interest
goal of team
2. People join only for administration
3.
2. People understand interdependence
Members work independently, 3. Goals are accomplished by mutual
sometimes against each other also.
support.
4. Members are told what to do.
4. Members contribute knowledge and
talents to team objectives.
5. Members distrust each other and do 5. There is a climate of trust, where
not understand each others’ role.
people are encouraged to express
their ideas.
6. Members are seen like employees.
6. They have sense of ownership and
commitment to goals.
7. Members may or may not be 7. Members are involved in decisions.
involved in decision making.
8. Confirmity is more important than 8. Positive results are the goals.
results.

4. Corporation & Community
‘Corporation’ elicits feelings and images of authority,
bureaucracy, competition, power, rigid rules, machines
and military chain of command.
‘Community’ evokes feelings of volunteers helping
others out, co-operation, town meetings, democracy,
personal responsibility, commitment, teamwork,
creative magic and fun.
Community gives a richer,
more involved sense of people
opting to be part of the
relationship to a large whole.

5. Take guidance from your elder
Godbrothers and sisters
So please stay stronger and stronger in
devotional service by chanting daily 16
rounds,
following the regulative principles strictly and
avoiding the ten offences in chanting.
If you follow this simple process faithfully
under the direction of your Spiritual Master
and
try to understand our philosophy by regular
study,
you will continue to progress in KC and
Krishna will simultaneously protect you
from the attacks of Maya and provide you
with all necessary facilities for rendering
service unto Him.
Please take encouragement and guidance
from your elder Godbrothers and sisters
and be happy in Krishna consciousness.
- SPs letter to Tradhis, Nagapatni – Gorakhpur
Feb 1971

6. Let’s struggle together……..
We had our difficulties, arguments, financial
problems. We were struggling; but we were
struggling together. Because we were
struggling together, we were helping each
other. In our efforts to help each other, we
were all able to take advantage of each other’s
strengths.
- ‘Taking care of Krishna’s devotees’ by Niranjan swami

7. Lets learn
Teamwork and
Co-operation
amongst
Devotees

8. If only all devotees live in
each others association
like geese...
How nice will it be!

9. When you see the geese migrating,
going to a warmer place,
to sort the winter...
Pay attention that
they fly in a “V” formation
Do you know why they do it this way...

10. By flying in a “V” formation....

11. The whole flock increases
the flight efficiency by 71%
Compared to just one bird flying alone

12. Le s s on 1:
S ha ring the s a me dire ction
a nd working a s a te a m, ge ts us to
the de s tina tion quicke r a nd e a s ie r.
By he lping ours e lve s , the
a ccomplis hme nts a re gre a te r!

13. We all share the same direction as we are
endeavouring to return back home back to
Godhead!
By Co-operating with one another &
Helping one another &
Appreciating the value of others’ association,
We can reach our destination of BTG easier,
smoother and faster!

14. Whe n a goos e le a ve s the
forma tion..

15. He fe e ls the re s is ta nce of the a ir a nd the
difficultie s of flying a lone ....

16. The n, he quickly come s ba ck to the forma tion
to ta ke a dva nta ge of the the flock’s powe r
in front of him ..

17. Le s s on 2:
By staying in tune and united beside
those going in the same direction,
the effort will be less.
Everyone will be inclined to accept and
give help.

18. Whe n we le a ve the a s s ocia tion of
de vote e s a nd try to pra ctice KC
a lone
be ca us e we ca nnot tole ra te the
diffe re nt na ture s of de vote e s ,
the n we ma ke our progre s s in KC
difficult.

19. Le s s on 2:
If we unde rs ta nd
the va lue of va is hna va s a nd
le a rn to tole ra te s ma ll diffe re nce s
a nd inconve nie nce s
in our pa th ba ck to Godhe a d,
the n a ll de vote e s will be incline d
to a cce pt a nd give he lp.

20. Whe n the le a de r goos e ge ts tire d of flying...

21. ... He goe s to the e nd of
the “V” forma tion.
While a nothe r goos e
ta ke s the le a d.
Successful bosses learn from people, including their
employees.

22. Lesson 3:
To share the leadership,
there must be
mutual respect between us
all the time...
Gathering our abilities, talents, resources and
combining our faculties,
We can share the hardest tasks

23. The ge e s e flying on a “V” forma tion, the y qua ck
to e ncoura ge to the one s in the front.
In tha t wa y, the y ke e p the s a me s pe e d.

24. Le s s on 4:
A time ly word of
e ncoura ge me nt,
a lwa ys motiva te s ,
he lps a nd
s tre ngthe ns ..
It produce s the be s t
of be ne fits ...

25. If we bond together and support
each other..
If we make true the spirit of
teamwork..
Regardless of our differences, we
can rise to meet our challenge.
LIFE WILL BE EASIER
AND THE PASSING OF YEARS
MORE FULFILLING
And....
We can co-operate in that
spirit for
pleasing Srila Prabhupada,
Guru and Gauranga

26. MY DEAR DEVOTEE FRIENDS...
LET’S BE LIKE THE GEESE!!!
AND FLY OUR WAY
BACK TO GODHEAD!!!

27. Thank you very much!