Six Leadership Lessons from Nature’s Ultimate Team Players
I’ve always been fascinated by ants. Not that they’d be welcome at my next picnic, but they are intriguing, resourceful, and resilient little creatures. As a little girl, I always wanted an ant farm, but for some reason my mother objected to me bringing that type of science project into our home where she was raising 10 children. Suffice it to say that I get it now. But to this day I maintain my fascination with their collective power and teamwork.
Here are a few fun facts about ants that might help us all:
- Ants can carry 50% more than their own weight. Maybe that’s why Frank Sinatra sang about their tenacity in his famous song, High Hopes.
- Ants link their limbs to create bridges between objects, allowing their colony members to walk over them and cross to the other side. Talk about sacrificing for the good of the team!
- Ants have highly efficient, effective lateral communication methods used to quickly inform team members of danger, new food sources, or a need for help. No mass emails needed.
- Groups of ants collaborate to build and maintain complex, stable and functional structures usually underground with intricate tunnels and chambers. Each individual may carry only a tiny grain of sand, but together, through tireless cooperation and unwavering purpose, they create something far greater than any single ant could achieve alone.
- They practice “brood care” where workers feed, groom and care for the colony’s eggs, larvae, and pupae ensuring survival of the next generation. It does take a village!
What would it look like if our teams were as efficient and collaborative as ants building a subterranean nest? I doubt you’d hear any self-pitying statements like, “I’m just a drone. I don’t make the rules. I just keep my head down and do what they tell me to.” And you wouldn’t hear the workers complaining that the queen doesn’t value them or pay them what they’re worth.
Leadership Lessons From the Ant Hill
- Every role matters.
- Teamwork helps to achieve the impossible.
- Shared purpose and goals inspires collective success.
- Open communication and coordination prevents confusion and improves efficiency.
- Persistence in the face of obstacles builds innovation and resilience.
- Mutual support and accountability fosters a culture where people can lean on each other when struggling but also hold one another accountable for results.
Just as ants instinctively communicate, adapt, and share the load, high-performing teams draw their strength from collaboration, resilience, and the understanding that every contribution, no matter how small, is essential to building something extraordinary.
Tags: being a leader, collaboration, employee collaboration, employee connections, Employee Engagement, great leadership, healthcare leadership, leadership excellence, team engagement
