Don't be too quick to encourage your employees to imitate the bee. Enable them to voice their concerns as well as their creative ideas.
The honey bee is a legendary symbol of industry and hard work. How we admire its diligence in flying from flower to flower searching for pollen! Its energy is unending as it races to complete its task.
For generations, the marvelous, hardworking honey bee has been held as an example of hard work and industry. It symbolizes diligent labor. It never deviates from its task, never slows down, never falters. It knows what it must do, and it does it.
We admire the student or child who is referred to as being “busy as a bee.” We encourage and respect the people who efficiently complete their daily tasks. A person who is observed as always busy at work is regarded as a productive worker.
The worker bee is driven with one goal: securing pollen for the hive. Its whole existence is based on fulfilling that mission. What dedication, what energy, what devotion to the queen bee! Sounds like a great employee. The bee never questions, never varies. He is even willing to risk his life if an enemy impedes his path. What more could an employer want? What a dream to have a worker who does everything he or she is asked and never questions. A perfect employee—right? Think again.
How do you, as a leader, balance consistent execution of tasks with improvement and innovation? How do you encourage healthy push back in company policies, procedures, and tasks? How do you promote an honest desire to know “why?”
Enabling employees to voice their concerns as well as their ideas for improvement makes them stronger and more productive. Their department flourishes as a result. But that’s not all. The entire organization benefits by having more knowledgeable and creative inputs as well as energized, appreciated, and focused employees!
An environment defined by open, informed two- way communication will generate a fully engaged and committed work force.
Ask Yourself:
Do you encourage them to share their concerns?