For more than 15 years, I’ve been an avid beekeeper—a passion sparked by curiosity, nurtured by my late mother-in-law who taught me the fundamentals, and one that has become one of my most profound teachers. Like many worthwhile pursuits, my journey in beekeeping has been marked by trial and error, a willingness to embrace complexity and uncertainty, and plenty of humbling mistakes. Through it all, the bees have provided me with invaluable insights into leadership, teamwork, and my role as an business and executive coach.
Much like leading an organization, managing a thriving bee colony is as much about creating the right conditions as it is about knowing when to step back and let nature—or the collective wisdom of your team—take the lead. In this edition of the Get ONPOINT! newsletter, I’ll share some of my favorite parallels between beekeeping, leadership, and coaching, offering practical lessons from the hive that can transform how we lead, inspire, and drive growth.
What do the bees have to teach us? It turns out quite a lot.
Specialized Roles – Finding Your Sweet Spot
One of the first lessons I learned as a beekeeper was the sheer precision of roles within the hive. Every honey bee—queen, drone, or worker—has a clearly defined job, essential to the survival and prosperity of the entire colony. The queen’s primary function is reproduction, drones exist solely for mating, and the workers manage everything from foraging and nursing to guarding the hive. This division of labor isn’t arbitrary; it’s an elegantly evolved strategy that maximizes efficiency and ensures resilience.
In leadership and coaching, the parallel is clear. Just like a thriving colony, successful organizations rely on people operating in their ideal roles, leveraging their unique strengths. As a coach, consultant and business advisor, one of my core strategies is helping leaders define clear, specialized roles for their teams. When individuals understand their purpose and play to their strengths—their personal sweet spot—the result is enhanced productivity, higher engagement, and a stronger, more resilient organization.
Remember, the bees don’t waste energy on tasks that don’t fit their roles; neither should your team.
Collective Intelligence – The Wisdom of the Swarm
One of the most fascinating aspects of beekeeping for me has always been observing how bees make decisions as a colony. Honeybees possess a remarkable form of collective intelligence, particularly evident when choosing a new hive location if the queen has unfortunately decided to swarm taking sometimes more than half the colony with her and leaving behind the hive you have so painstakingly attempted to curate and maintain for them. Scouts venture out independently, evaluating potential sites, then return to the colony to communicate their findings through the famous “waggle dance.” This dance allows the colony to collectively assess options, eventually building consensus and confidently moving forward together.
This natural strategy is directly applicable to how we lead teams and businesses. In my coaching and consulting practice, I often emphasize the value of tapping into collective insights. Effective leaders aren’t those who have all the answers but rather those who can skillfully draw out ideas, knowledge, and perspectives from their teams. Encouraging open communication, active listening, and informed debate allows teams to make smarter decisions—ones that enjoy broader buy-in and deeper commitment.
The bees remind us that true leadership leverages the wisdom of the swarm, recognizing that many minds, aligned and empowered, are far stronger and wiser than one alone.
Adaptive Leadership – Even the Queen Is Replaceable
Early on in my beekeeping journey, I discovered a striking yet humbling reality: even the queen bee, central as she is, remains accountable to the colony. If the queen’s productivity falters or her health declines, the colony swiftly initiates an intricate process to raise a replacement. It’s a powerful self-regulating system that prioritizes the colony’s overall success and longevity above any single bee.
This observation has influenced my approach to leadership development. Effective leadership isn’t about holding tightly onto control—it’s about staying agile and responsive, continuously adapting to the evolving needs of the organization. In coaching executives, I frequently emphasize the importance of accountability and adaptability. High-performing teams must have mechanisms in place to recognize when leadership styles or structures are no longer effective, and they must be courageous enough to make necessary adjustments.
Just as bees prioritize the collective good of the colony, great leaders and organizations thrive when they recognize that adaptability, rather than status or tenure, defines lasting success.
Creating Conditions for Success – The Beekeeper’s Role
One of the most important—and sometimes toughest—lessons I’ve learned in beekeeping is recognizing the limits of my own control. My role is to provide an optimal environment: healthy hives, adequate food supply, and protection from pests. But ultimately, the bees determine their own success. I can’t dictate their behavior or productivity; I can only influence conditions. Despite doing everything possible sometimes things don’t work out the way you intended. Some years you have a bumper crop of honey, other years it’s just OK and some years – nothing. And often your strongest hive will swarm and leave you depleted because the queen decided the hive grew too big and it’s time to divide and start another colony somewhere else.
This lesson translates directly into my work. Leaders, much like beekeepers, succeed most when they focus on creating the right conditions for their teams to thrive. Clear objectives, supportive cultures, and available resources form the foundation of organizational health and growth. Yet, leaders must also recognize and accept that many outcomes are beyond their direct control—shaped by market dynamics, economic shifts, or even chance.
The most impactful leaders—and coaches—understand the balance between influence and control. They foster environments conducive to success but trust their teams to make the most of these conditions, much like a beekeeper trusts the innate wisdom of the colony.
Resilience to External Factors – Weathering the Storm
If beekeeping has taught me anything, it’s resilience. Bees constantly navigate factors beyond their control—weather changes, scarcity of nectar, predators, and even human interference such as a neighbor unknowingly spraying harmful pesticides. Despite these challenges, their adaptive nature ensures the colony’s survival, often emerging stronger after each setback.
In my practice, resilience is a core theme I emphasize repeatedly. Leaders inevitably face challenges they can’t predict or fully control—shifts in market conditions, disruptive competition, or internal setbacks. Failure at some point is inevitable if you are innovating and pushing the boundaries required for success. Resilient leaders don’t dwell on setbacks; they pivot, adapt, and learn. They build agility into their organizational cultures, preparing teams to respond proactively rather than reactively and rebounding quickly when things don’t go their way.
Just as honeybees adjust their activities to the ever-changing environment, effective leaders guide their organizations with flexibility, strength, and a growth mindset. Resilience, after all, isn’t simply enduring adversity; it’s thriving because of it.
Maintaining Organizational Health – Keep the Hive Clean
One of the remarkable habits I’ve observed in honeybees is their relentless commitment to maintaining cleanliness within their hive. Bees instinctively remove debris, contaminants, and even unhealthy larvae to protect the colony’s overall health and prevent the spread of disease. They know instinctively that even small amounts of contamination can threaten their entire community.
I frequently draw on this lesson, emphasizing the importance of proactively managing organizational culture. Effective leaders pay close attention to early warning signs—such as toxic behaviors, inefficiencies, or declining morale—and address them decisively. Just as bees understand that cleanliness directly impacts the colony’s survival, leaders must recognize how quickly cultural issues can undermine an organization’s performance if left unchecked.
Healthy, high-performing teams, like thriving hives, never allow issues to linger. They act swiftly to protect their organizational well-being, keeping their “hive” healthy, productive, and resilient.
Continuous Learning and Growth – Evolving Roles
A fascinating aspect of beekeeping—and one that has significantly shaped my thinking about leadership—is the evolving nature of roles within the hive. Worker bees continually adapt their responsibilities, transitioning from caretakers of young larvae to foragers and defenders as they age. This progression leverages their changing abilities, benefiting the colony as a whole.
In my work as a coach, I emphasize the importance of continuous learning and professional growth. Just as worker bees evolve in their roles, effective leaders encourage and support their teams in developing new skills and capabilities, aligning talent strategically to meet organizational needs. Moreover, leaders themselves must model lifelong learning, constantly adapting their own skill sets to meet new challenges and opportunities.
Great organizations, much like successful colonies, thrive not by remaining static but by embracing continuous evolution. After all, the most successful leaders and teams understand that growth isn’t a one-time event—it’s an ongoing commitment to development, agility, and strategic adaptability.
Leadership Lessons from the Hive
My experiences as a beekeeper have continuously reminded me that some of life’s greatest leadership lessons come from unexpected places. The hive has taught me about clarity in roles, harnessing collective wisdom, adaptability, resilience, maintaining organizational health, and the power of continuous learning and growth. These lessons are not only essential in managing bees—they’ve profoundly shaped my approach as a business and executive coach helping leaders and teams thrive in today’s complex, dynamic environments.
Like honeybees, successful leaders and organizations thrive by adapting, collaborating, and continuously evolving. As you reflect on these insights, consider how you might apply them to your own leadership style and organizational culture. How can you better create the conditions for your team to succeed? Are you harnessing the collective intelligence around you, and proactively maintaining your organizational “hive”?
Let’s Start a Conversation
I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences. Have you noticed similar parallels between nature and leadership? Are there other examples or metaphors that inspire you or guide your leadership philosophy?
Share your insights and reflections below, or feel free to reach out directly at jason@onpoint-advisors.com or schedule a meeting here—I’m always eager to learn from your perspectives and experiences.
Here’s to learning, growing, and thriving together—just like the bees.
References
Michael O’Malley, “The Wisdom of Bees: What the Hive Can Teach Business about Leadership, Efficiency, and Growth”. https://www.amazon.com/Wisdom-Bees-Business-Leadership-Efficiency/dp/159184326X
Deborah Mackin & Matthew Harrington, “Survival of the Hive: 7 Leadership Lessons from a Beehive”. https://www.amazon.com/Survival-Hive-Leadership-Lessons-Beehive/dp/1481749722
Philip Atkinson, “Bee Wise: 12 Leadership Lessons from Inside a Hive”. https://www.aoec.com/knowledge-bank/book-review-bee-wise-by-philip-atkinson/
