LEARNING DEMOCRATIC DECISION MAKING FROM BEES

@abbyfretz

instagram.com/abbyfretz

starts crying can’t wipe her tears thinks deep thoughts speaks out loud to bees gets weird looks from passersby

As Digital Project Manager

You are the observant beekeeper* *you are NOT the queen (#sorrynotsorry)

You have a lot of control over some elements…

and zero control over MOST

LIFE

Your team is

the colony

With lots of

EGO

Your PROJECT is QUEEN

And your loyalty is to the QUEEN

Build a group that is smarter than the smartest individuals in the group

#1. Build a team culture that celebrates each person’s unique knowledge and ability to lead.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Cleaner Nurse & Attendent Fanner Wax Making & Builder Guard Forager

“The work of a hive is governed collectively by the workers themselves, each one an alert individual making tours of inspection looking for things to do and acting on her own to serve the community.” -Thomas D. Seeley

1. Introduce everyone 2. Encourage your experts to explore 3. Find opportunities to showcase ideas 4. Find opportunities for learning 5. Thank them

#2. Make your team a safe place to share ideas, debate, and know how to make a final decision.

A Swarm

NOT a Swarm

1. 2. 3. 4.

Don’t pressure others Call out self-censorship Call out ‘group think’ Encourage questions

5. Assign a devil’s advocate 6. Create an anonymous channel for feedback 7. Establish simple rules for measure 8. Know the system

Celebrate…no, EXPECT Flexibility

#3.

Visit and revisit the boundaries, and then celebrate pushing those boundaries. 


1. Review requirements regularly 2. Celebrate exploration 3. Recognize a paralyzed team vs. challenged team 4. Prompt your team to make a strong case for radical ideas


“…these little six-legged beauties have something to teach us about building smoothly functioning groups, especially ones capable of exploiting fully the power of democratic decision making.”