If you were to ask me what organization was the most efficient I would probably surprise you with my answer: honeybees. Each colony is fascinating, with a predetermined leader, loyal workers, and brave soldiers. I have always loved the hardworking honey bee- perhaps it was in my nature as I grew up in Utah, commonly known as the Beehive State.

I think that a lot can be learned from a colony of bees and feel strongly that if more companies and businesses emulated the functions and procedures of bees and beekeepers that many issues plaguing leaders and workers would be resolved.

Before this, though we need to understand how a beehive works, the roles inside of it, and what success is for a colony.

1. The Queen Bee’s role is simple: Lay eggs. If the queen bee is laying eggs then the hive is healthy, if the Queen Bee is not laying eggs then the hive is in danger. The role of the queen bee is the most important thing to a hive.
2. Every Bee knows that the success of the colony depends on the Queen Bee laying eggs. She is protected, sheltered, fed, she is not distracted by anything else than doing her job. This doesn’t make her the most important bee in the colony, just determined to fulfill the role.
3. When Eggs are being laid, worker bees begin to fulfill their roles- caring for the eggs, collecting food, maintaining temperature, or even defending the hive from intruders. When the queen is happy doing her job, other bees do their job.

I talk with small businesses all over the world- An experienced hotel in Morocco, a Welder in the United Kingdom, a Homemade candle maker in Montana, and a Rock Collector in Mexico. All of them have one thing in common; By the time they find and start talking to me, they are all overwhelmed!

They are reaching their sales goals, they have established amazing businesses, they have the client base and the networking, and they don’t even really need to market because word of mouth is doing it for them. But they want to stop because they are working more than ever before. The employees that they have, if any, are of one mind, one goal- but seem to still be flailing around. Being unsure of processes and procedures. This brings us to the first lesson- Define your role as a leader.

As stated before the queen bee’s role is to lay eggs, the hive is healthy and successful when she is laying eggs continuously. The same is with leaders. When a leader’s role is not defined they are doing more than what they need to. I think the extinction rate of bees would be much faster if a queen bee was like “Nope, I need to take care of the eggs now.” or “Our production of honey is low better go get some nectar myself.” Ask yourself what is your role in your business?

Most will answer with their core philosophy, and the experience they want to give their customers. From amazing communication to quality handcrafted products. With this in mind, then ask yourself; How much time do you spend doing that role in a 40-hour workweek? Two or Three hours perhaps? When a Queen Bee is fulfilling her role she doesn’t stop, the success and expansion of the colony depend on her completing the sole task of her job.

Employees that understand how important the leader’s role is, and what that entails then are entrusted with roles of their own. Primary functions that they need to complete. It is when this momentum is achieved that a business will expand exponentially. Don’t believe me, because in nature it happens all the time. You will see a bee buzzing around your house in the morning and by the evening you have an entire nest. Effective leadership with defined roles for everyone is the best way to expand and grow a business.

It is in part why I named my own business, Beepix, which has the humble honey bee as the mascot. Because anyone that I bring onto my team understands that each role inside the hive is important, including mine. But I am not going to sit and busy myself with their roles, because I have my own: To provide professional yet personal art for my clients.

While this is not the only lesson one can learn from honeybees, I do think that it is the most important. Having an undefined role can make one overwhelmed, disarray workplace practice, and displace the momentum of other employees. But when the core role is defined it can create an equilibrium or harmonic process that propels the business forward at remarkable speeds.