Keep your Team Parasite Free

What Beekeeping Taught Me About Leadership (and Mite Management)

There are so many great leadership analogies in beekeeping, but one of the most powerful comes from an unexpected place: pests. Specifically, Varroa mites—one of the most dreaded threats to a honey bee colony. These tiny, parasitic creatures burrow into honeycomb cells, latch onto the backs of worker bees, and slowly drain the hive’s health and productivity.

Because mites are microscopic, we rarely see them directly. Instead, I watch for subtle signs of trouble: colonies that are irritable, underperforming—or in the worst cases, they abscond—literally pack up and leave.

Sound familiar?

In leadership, we often encounter "mites" of our own. Toxic influences—whether team members, clients, suppliers, or systems—can quietly suck the energy out of our teams. Left unaddressed, they cause disengagement, dysfunction, and sometimes even complete breakdown. Like in beekeeping, a few “mites” might not seem like a big deal at first. But without attention and action, the damage grows. Goals get missed, morale dips, and turnover rises.

So how do we lead like good beekeepers?

We check in often. We stay attuned to changes in behavior. We build a culture of openness where even the smallest concern can be voiced. And we take proactive steps to protect the health and happiness of the whole team.

As a beekeeper, I treat my hives twice a year to prevent mite infestations. In leadership terms, that’s like investing in team-building and intentional culture care. It’s effort up front to ensure an environment where people not only want to stay, but where they can thrive.

Mite treatment itself isn’t glamorous. It means wearing a full bee suit and breathing mask—often in Texas heat. In leadership, that might look like making time for tough conversations, carving out space for development, or stretching the budget for team retreats. It’s not always easy. But like with bees, these investments yield returns that are hard to quantify and too valuable to ignore.

Another beekeeper once described a mite as “a weight on a worker’s back”—one that slows her down and drains her spirit.

So here’s your mite prevention plan:

• Check in often. Create shared language that makes it safe and easy to talk about obstacles. (This analogy works great, by the way—feel free to borrow it!)

• Prioritize development. Budget for it at the beginning of the year. Set goals. Protect the time. Make it fun.

• Support transparency. Celebrate when team members raise red flags. Work together on solutions, and when a fix isn’t possible, help them build resilience and coping strategies.

  
  

Want to try a honey bee-inspired team experience? Reach out—I love this stuff. No bees required!