Lessons from the beehive: what bees teach us about Future of Work
A few weeks ago, we discovered a massive beehive in our loft.
My wife and kids were scared, so was I. Bees buzzing everywhere. For a moment, we had no idea what to do.
We called a bee expert, who calmly dealt with the situation in an environmentally friendly way. Crisis averted. But what stuck with us was what he taught us about how bees work.
Bees are incredible creatures. They’re agile, cohesive, and each bee has a clear role:
➞ Some gather nectar.
➞ Others protect the hive.
➞ And some ensure everything inside runs smoothly.
The biggest learning?
Bees can’t be productive by staying in the hive all the time. If they never venture out, there’s:
➞ No nectar.
➞ No pollination.
➞ No growth.
The hive thrives because the bees know how to balance their time, working both inside and outside, collectively achieving their purpose.
This experience made me reflect on how much our work has transformed today to resemble this dynamic.
The post-pandemic Hive
Working with multiple companies post-pandemic, we’ve observed that:
➞ Some hives are physical.
➞ Some are digital.
➞ And some are a perfect combination of both.
And when it comes to people, it’s the same story.
Here’s how they learn:
- External Learning: Some venture out to conferences, network and engage with industry peers. They bring fresh ideas back to the hive.
- Digital Learning: Others prefer online resources, tapping into vast global knowledge bases.
- Internal Learning: Some thrive through internal training, learning by osmosis and drawing knowledge from within the organisation.
The common error in RTO thinking
This is where we believe many organisations maybe making a mistake.
Relying solely on internal knowledge and mandating prolonged physical presence in the office could have several errors.
Unfortunately, this outdated mindset forms the backbone of many return to office (RTO) memos. The reasoning appears flawed because it assumes that productivity and growth only occur within the confines of the hive.
What bees can teach us
Bio-mimicry teaches us a vital lesson. That is, thriving organisations, like thriving hives, balance the internal and the external.
They:
➞ Embrace diverse ways of learning and connecting.
➞ Encourage idea pollination across boundaries.
Growth doesn’t come from staying in one place. It comes from engaging with the world, adopting new perspectives and challenging norms.
The evidence: productivity beyond proximity
Studies show that hybrid and remote-first companies consistently outperform their traditional counterparts in employee engagement and satisfaction. According to a 2023 Gallup report, organisations with flexible work policies saw a 20% increase in productivity and a 15% decrease in attrition.
Additionally, a study by Harvard Business Review revealed that 64% of employees felt they learned more effectively through a mix of external and digital learning resources than through internal training alone.
Prolonged presence is not the key
Proximity is not the only determinant of learning and productivity. Thriving organisations foster cultures of curiosity, purpose, and collaboration…..regardless of location.
So, are we creating hives that thrive or just hives that hum?
It’s time to rethink how we design workplaces and learning ecosystems. We must free employees to work and learn like those bees: venturing out with purpose, balancing internal and external experiences and bringing back the nectar of innovation.
What is your view?
Is it time we freed humans from outdated ideas of productivity and embraced a purpose-driven, boundary-pollinating future?
Let’s discuss in comments.
You can find more on www.worktransformers.com
Alternatively, reach out to me on sam@worktransformers.com for a chat.