Intelligence in Nature Series

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Intelligence in Nature Series

Leadership lessons from the Honeybee

LESSONS

FROM THE HIVE..

• Phylogenic hubris might lead us to think we have nothing to learn from bees.

• This concept of humans learning from nature is called biomimetics or biomimicry.

• There are numerous models in nature that human beings can relate to solve their problems.

• The imitation of the models, systems, and elements of nature can be useful in solving complex human problems.

• In this instalment, we focus on three lessons from the humble bees.• In this instalment, we focus on three lessons from the humble bees.

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THE GOD OF THE BEE

IS THE FUTURE

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PROTECT THE

FUTURE..

• The problems many companies face are a result of chasing the mirage of market expectations. • The problems many companies face are a result of chasing the mirage of market expectations.

• Motivated by this they drive up immediate profits, failing to see that the source of today’s profit will eventually disappear.

• They overindulge and underexplore, disregarding that it all will pass

• Unlike these companies, bees are not short-term maximizers.

• Instead, the honeybees’ basic strategy is to maximize returns over a broad geographic area and extended time horizon.

• Bees don’t focus exclusively on the most productive flower patches at any given time, as conditions change rapidly.

• Bees clearly advise through their behavior, overexploiting a rich patch just because it is there is a death trap.

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The way to ensure that there will be a short run is to focus on the long run. The way to ensure that there will be a short run is to focus on the long run.

This may take some convincing of those who see it the other way around, such as shareholders.

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COMMON GOOD IS

SELF- INTEREST..

•Bees organise themselves in the hive so as to spread the good for the whole •Bees organise themselves in the hive so as to spread the good for the whole

•Therefore the commons is central to their operations.

•All activity within the hive is directed at furthering the interests of the entire colony.

•With no thought of the “self”, the bee's constant focus of effort is on the local scene and the good of the whole community.

•The enduring power of a harmonious community is the forty-million-year-old honey bee hive.

•They survived the last era of large scale extinctions of species.•They survived the last era of large scale extinctions of species.

•Honey bees can provide us with useful clues to improve the longevity of firms.

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Enduring value creation is only possible when companies dedicate themselves to society.

This may seem counterintuitive to those who see companies as linear profit machines.

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THE FRUITS OF

TRUST ..

•Bees operate as if they the can depend on one another.

•Free of personal agendas, each individual bee works closely without cult of personality, jealousy, or infighting.

•There have been various studies to assess this like the "Lake Experiments” which profile their decision making process. •There have been various studies to assess this like the "Lake Experiments” which profile their decision making process.

•Given that all members of the hive want the same things, listening becomes easy.

•In business, odd ideas and new ways of looking at problems often are met with suspicion and resistance.

•Yet the strange and unfamiliar often result in the most innovative and lucrative breakthroughs.

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The mental model held by leadership is often biased by ego and personal agendas.

To preserve long run potential, these tacit leadership assumptions need to be surfaced periodically

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WE ACKNOWLEDGE

AND THANK

MICHAEL O’MALLEY..

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LONGBRAND

OUR QUEST

An independent international advisory

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An independent international advisory

devoted to breaking the status quo of financial capitalism

through Purposeful Wealth Creation Models