The Wisdom of Bees
What the Hive Can Teach Business about Leadership, Efficiency, and Growth
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- $15.99
Publisher Description
'It seemed to me that the bees were working on the very same kinds of problems we are trying to solve. How can large, diverse groups work together harmoniously and productively? Perhaps we could take what the bees do so well and apply it to our institutions.'
When Michael O'Malley first took up beekeeping he thought it would be a nice hobby to share with his son. But he noticed that bees not only work together to achieve a common goal but, in the process, create a remarkably productive organization, like a miniature but incredibly successful business.
O'Malley also realized that bees can teach managers a lot, identifying 25 powerful insights such as:
* Distribute authority: the queen bee delegates relentlessly and worker bees make daily decisions
* Keep it simple: bees exchange only relevant information
* Protect the future: when a lucrative vein of nectar is discovered, the entire colony doesn't rush off to mine it
Blending practical advice with interesting facts about the hive, The Wisdom of Bees is a useful and entertaining guide for any manager looking to get the most out of his or her organization.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Social psychologist (and avid beekeeper) O Malley draws management guidance from the hive in this charming rundown of best business practices. It turns out bees work on the same kinds of problems we are trying to solve in our organizations, including the best strategies for managing short-term vs. long-term gains, stability vs. flexibility, individuality vs. community, and similarity vs. change. O Malley applies lessons learned from those clever bees to strategies to help organizations survive and grow while wasting as little energy and resources as possible, to expand exploration during low-growth periods, to maintain durability over the long run, to keep energy levels up, to provide ongoing feedback, to avoid overengineering, to discover and use an individual s specialized talents, and to be objective and data driven. The advice itself is your standard management-lesson fare, but presented in a concise, conversational format with great personality, practicality, and verve.
