• 2026-05-20

The Lead Crane

Nhan Huc Quan (*)

A lot of people like to compare CEOs to eagles — symbols of strength, independence, razor-sharp vision, and the ability to conquer towering heights.

But the longer I’ve traveled the road of leadership, the more I’ve come to realize something: a CEO is not an eagle.

At least… not entirely.

Because business is not the story of one solitary individual climbing to the top to prove his own strength. Business is the story of a group of people moving together through storms, unforgiving skies, and journeys far longer than anyone imagined at the start.

So if I had to choose an image that truly captures the essence of a CEO, I would not choose the eagle.

I would choose… the lead crane.

Because cranes do not fly alone. They fly in formation. They take turns leading. They protect one another. They spend their own strength so the entire flock can travel farther. And most importantly, the lead crane is always the one facing the fiercest headwind. That is the true portrait of a real CEO.

Not the person flying highest to be admired from below, but the one willing to fly ahead so the entire organization does not lose its direction.

Not because cranes are the strongest birds in the sky. Not because they are fierce or possess the widest wingspan. But because a flock of cranes may be one of nature’s most extraordinary symbols of leadership, teamwork, and the quiet endurance required for a long journey.

In the wild, cranes are migratory birds capable of flying thousands of kilometers across continents. They push through brutal winters, violent storms, and hostile skies in search of survival. And astonishingly, they never make the journey alone.

Cranes always fly in a V formation. That formation is not merely beautiful. It is survival itself.

Researchers discovered that when cranes fly in a V formation, every bird behind benefits from the uplift created by the wings of the bird ahead. Because of this, the flock conserves enormous amounts of energy and can travel up to 70% farther than a crane flying alone.

Yet within that formation, there is always one bird at the very front. The lead crane.

That bird is not granted more comfort or more rest. Quite the opposite. It bears the greatest wind resistance. It is the first to meet the storm. It is the one carving a path through uncertain skies so the flock behind does not lose its way. That is exactly what a true CEO looks like.

From the outside, people often see the glamour of leadership — power, status, wealth, influence. But very few understand that the role resembles the lead crane far more than anyone realizes: the one forced to absorb the pressure first.

When markets become unstable, the CEO is the first to lose sleep. When the company enters crisis, the CEO is the first who must remain calm. When the organization begins to panic, the CEO must become the source of confidence. And when everyone else wants to turn back, the CEO must still be able to see the horizon ahead.

A lead crane cannot fly on emotion.

It must fly on resilience. And perhaps the most remarkable lesson of all is this: within a flock of cranes, the leading position is never permanent. When the lead crane grows tired, another takes its place. And still, the flock continues forward. That is one of the deepest lessons in leadership. A great CEO does not build an organization dependent on a single individual. They build teams capable of succession. They create future lead cranes. Because lasting strength does not come from one bird flying best. It comes from the ability of the entire flock to move together toward the same destination.

And while cranes fly, they constantly call out to one another. Scientists believe those calls help encourage the flock and maintain rhythm throughout the formation.

Business is no different. An organization cannot go far without a leader capable of inspiring belief. There are moments when teams do not need a genius. They need someone who can keep the fire alive. Someone who can pass that fire on. Someone who reminds people why the journey is still worth continuing. That is why a CEO is not merely someone who manages operations. A CEO is someone who sustains belief.

People often think leadership means standing above others.

It does not. True leadership means flying ahead so others can fly farther. The lead crane does not drag the flock forward through authority. It guides through direction.

A strong company is not one where employees fear the boss. It is one where people willingly choose to move toward the same horizon together.

There is also another beautiful truth about cranes. If one crane becomes injured and falls, two others will leave the formation and descend with it. They stay beside the injured bird, protecting and caring for it until it recovers or dies. Only then do they return to another flock. A great CEO is not the person who generates the most revenue. It is the person who refuses to leave their people behind. Because in the end, a business is not factories, machinery, or financial reports.

A business is people. And the longer one spends in the business world, the more one realizes this: the hardest part of being a CEO is not making money. It is keeping the flock willing to continue flying together.

Because there will be moments of exhaustion. Moments of doubt. Moments when markets shift, competitors grow stronger, teams become divided, and confidence begins to fracture.

And it is precisely in those moments that the role of the lead crane truly reveals itself. Not when the skies are clear. But when the winds begin to rise.

An average CEO manages work. A great CEO leads a journey.

They inspire people to believe in something greater than compensation or titles. They make today’s sacrifices feel meaningful. They transform a collection of employees into a team with a shared soul.

And just like cranes crossing an endless sky…

No one remembers every flap of every wing. But people remember the journey they survived together. So if leadership ever finds its way to you, remember this:

The lead crane is not the bird that flies most beautifully. It is the bird willing to fly first into the headwind.

And the true value of a leader is never measured by how high they fly alone… but by how many people they bring with them toward a new horizon.

 

(*) General Manager, New Toyo (Vietnam) Aluminium Paper Packaging Co., Ltd.