What Team Leaders Can Learn from Bees

When it comes to getting things done effectively as a team, there are many lessons you can learn from bees. A colony of honeybees is more than just a queen and a bunch of servants. Every individual member of the ‘team’ works towards a common purpose where everyone benefits. Observing the work of honeybees is a fascinating insight into cooperation, planning, and serving others.

In this article, you will find out about the many things bees can teach us about leadership. These lessons from nature can help you develop the right skills to ‘bee’ an effective leader.

When it comes to getting things done effectively as a team, there are many lessons you can learn from bees. A colony of honeybees is more than just a queen and a bunch of servants. Every individual member of the ‘team’ works towards a common purpose where everyone benefits. Observing the work of honeybees is a fascinating insight into cooperation, planning, and serving others.

In this article, you will find out about the many things bees can teach us about leadership. These lessons from nature can help you develop the right skills to ‘bee’ an effective leader.

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1. Clear communication

With having up to 80,000 honeybees in a colony, communication is essential. Bees communicate through a series of movements that let other bees know where food sources are. They also use pheromones (odours) to pass on messages that are essential for the colony’s success.

Having good communication skills is a vital lesson managers and team leaders can learn from bees. You need to communicate your goals, vision, and what is expected of each member. It is also just as important to allow employees to communicate openly with you.

2. Good cooperation

Bees need to cooperate with each other to ensure the success of the hive. The workers, drones, and queen all have specific tasks to take care of building the nest, collecting food, and rearing new bees. Their survival depends on the combined effort of the whole colony. In fact, there is no ego among bees because the common good is always the priority.

Bees provide a good lesson showing that working together is the best way to achieve goals. Success is achieved when roles are clearly defined and everyone works within their remit.

3. Plan ahead for the future

Planning for the future is another important lesson that managers can learn from bees’ activity. Honeybees make honey when the sun is shining and they produce enough food to last the winter. Even if supplies seem plenty, bees will continue working to make honey. In fact, they produce so much that there is enough to ‘share’ with humans.

The lesson here is to always take advantage of good market conditions and have enough saved up for leaner times. Also, bees always live within their means by living off the resources they create themselves.

4. Division of labour and training is essential

As they grow and mature, bees learn a number of jobs or tasks in the hive. In the end, they become food gatherers and have one of the most important roles in keeping the hive thriving. However, in the event of an emergency, they can revert back to any type of job needed for the hive’s survival.

Bees teach a great lesson in the need for flexibility and adaptability in the workplace. Training is essential for all members of the organization and leaders should be willing to adapt to the times.

5. A true leader is a servant

It would be a mistake to assume that the ‘Queen Bee’ just expects all the workers to serve her. The queen of the hive is also servant to the hive. The main role of the queen is to produce eggs that ensure a healthy population. In fact, experts on bees say that a queen can lay over 1,500 eggs a day!

The lesson? A person in a position of responsibility such as a manager, boss, or team leader should act as part of the team. The only way a colony can survive is by everyone working towards a common goal. Problems develop in the hive when there are problems with the queen.

6. Hard work

Bees are known for their industriousness and hard work. For example, to make 500 grams of honey, it requires 300 bees to land on over 2 million flowers. To do this, they fly over 88,000 kilometres.

Of course, all managers and leaders realise the importance of hard work. However, it is essential to create environments at work to engage all of your workforce. Workers who are inspired, appreciated, and encouraged are more likely to work hard for the common good of the organisation.