Bees & Hornets

Last night, while I was swimming, I noticed a bumblebee drowning near the edge of the pool. Without thinking, I scooped it up in a handful of water and guided it to dry land - where it sat wet, stunned, but safe.

Later, I found myself wondering: Why did I do that?What percentage of people would have?And then—what if it had been a hornet instead?

Would I have saved it? Probably not.

We think about bees and hornets very differently. Bees are pollinators. Helpers. They’re essential to our planet. We’ve been taught to admire them, protect them, value them. Bees don’t just avoid hurting us - they help us. And maybe, on some level, I scooped that bee out of the water not just to be kind - but because it serves a bigger purpose. One that benefits me too.

Hornets don’t have that story. They’re not seen as useful. They’re seen as aggressive, unpredictable, mean. When they sting, we say, “See?” No goodwill.

And I think we can apply this thinking to the way we think about leadership.

We all lead through stories - some individuals we see as bees, others as hornets. We’re quicker to support the ones who’ve proven their worth, who contribute to culture, who make us look good or feel effective. But what about the ones who don’t fit that mold? The ones we quietly let struggle?

What do we miss when we lead through judgment instead of curiosity? Maybe the challenge in leadership isn’t to rescue everyone.Maybe it’s simply to notice: Am I seeing this person clearly—or just reacting to the story I’ve attached to them?

Leadership Challenge:

When considering who to promote, who to invest in, or who to let go, what invisible stories are shaping your decision? Are you rewarding perceived value, or recognizing real potential? Who might be getting overlooked because they don’t look like a bee?