Vincenzo D.'s Key Ideas from Honeybee Democracy
by Thomas D. Seeley

Honeybees evaluate potential nest sites carefully to find the best possible new home.

Scout bees spread the word about potential nest sites, and gradually reach agreement.

Mistakes are a rarity when it comes to choosing a new nest site.

When the time comes to move, a swarm of honeybees acts with remarkable cohesion.

We can learn a lot from the democratic decision-making process of honeybees.

First off, we should note that, in addition to the obvious ones, there are some surprising differences between humans and bees. The most important is that honeybees always have a shared common goal: the survival of the hive. People, in contrast, often work toward different goals.

But in situations where people’s interests match up – say, at a town council meeting or a committee – bees can be a model for how to behave.

A good first lesson is to place little emphasis on leaders. The scout bees’ opinions all count equally so there’s no risk that one bee will force the swarm into a poor decision. Too often, human leaders force bad choices on a group.

A second lesson is to always look for multiple solutions. Scout bees fly in different directions when looking for nest sites, maximizing the number of possibilities. In the same way, it’s good practice in any group situation to make sure all options are on the table before you commit.

Third, consider using the bees’ approach to decision-making. If a group needs a good decision, not necessarily a perfect one, it’s sometimes worth pressing ahead once it’s clear an idea will definitely work – even if it doesn’t have universal approval. Just like the scout bees do when initiating the swarm’s move to a new home.

Every year, two-thirds of the honeybees in a swarm will leave their home and spend a few days in a tree. Meanwhile, an intrepid group of scout bees will conduct a thorough evaluation of potential new homes in the vicinity. The careful and effective process that honeybees have evolved enables them to almost always make the right choice – and it’s a process that could serve as a model for good decision-making to us all.