Bee Wise: Leadership Lessons Inspired by the Hive

…Learning from the bees – a year of wisdom for everyone at work

One of our clients is Philip Atkinson, who has combined his love for beekeeping and leadership coaching into his latest book, Bee Wise: 12 Leadership Lessons from a Busy Hive.

Philip has spent his summers spent tending beehives in Alsace, France, which has given him a unique insight into the complex dynamics of hive life. Drawing from these experiences, his new book combines real-world examples with a creative metaphor to offer fresh perspectives on teamwork, decision-making, and adaptability in today’s fast-paced workplace.

Lessons from the Hive

Here’s what Philip shared with us:

Who isn’t curious about life inside a buzzy bee hive and the miracle that turns sunshine and flowers in a meadow to a beautiful jar of honey spread on toast? And a busy beehive is an intriguing metaphor for working life today. In this fascinating and fun book, Philip Atkinson shares wisdom about what happens inside a busy hive;

• Did you know bees have seven different jobs and only fly for the last few days of their life?
• Did you realise that when bees decide to swarm to a new location they take time to seek second opinions from each other, and they might. But when a decision is taken the bees all agree to stand by that decision?
• Were you aware that male bees are no longer necessary at the end of the summer and they are murdered by the female worker bees so as not to be a drain on resources in the winter?

In turn these thought-provoking insights from inside the hive become lessons for life inside complex corporations. There are important lessons regarding leadership awareness, decision making, continuous learning and the benefits of diversity. There are also practical insights for how we develop our own career and lead complex teams.

A Collaborative Project

Much like the hive itself, Bee Wise embodies the power of collaboration. The book features contributions from 12 guest writers, each offering their unique perspectives on the leadership lessons explored in each chapter.

Philip is also giving back through this project—proceeds from the book will support Bees for Development, a charity that promotes sustainable beekeeping practices around the world.

A Significant Achievement

We’re proud to celebrate this milestone with Philip and to see his work already gaining recognition:

“A thought-provoking reflection on the complex lives of bees and how that can be used as a metaphor for leadership in large organisations. There is something for everyone in this fascinating book.”
– Martha Kearney, BBC News Presenter & Beekeeper

Now Available

The hardback edition of Bee Wise is available now on Philip’s website, and the paperback will launch on 1st March on Amazon.

Congratulations to Philip on creating such an inspiring book—we’re looking forward to reading it and finding out how being Bee Wise sparks fresh thinking in leadership and teamwork.