Ever wonder how ants build and live in such amazing community? As someone who is often challenged with ants every May/June in our house, I was initially drawn to learn more about the nature of ants when I came across the video below.
But while watching this presentation by Deborah Gordon, ant biologist from Stanford University, I found myself fascinated with the organization that actually underlies the apparent chaos in an ant colony.
All of their processes are very connected and harmonized, and the truly amazing thing is that these processes are not directed or managed by any single ant or group of ants! No ant (aside from the queen) has an assigned job, but simply senses what is required of him/her from moment to moment and they just get on with it.
No arguing, no debating, no strategizing, no lobbying, no mind games…
How do they sustain themselves without any apparent leadership or management?
What can a colony of ants or other natural systems teach us about our own human communities? There is much wisdom to be extracted from natural systems if we really look closely at these systems to understand how they survive (and thrive!)
The video is about 20 minutes long. While scientific in nature, ask yourself while watching:
- What if we were able to collaborate so effectively in our own communities?
- How can we let go of trying to control outcomes and other people in our communities, and rather, turn our focus to what contribution is needed from us for the good of the system (community)?
- What if every member could be a leader by doing an outstanding job at what they are individually called to do, by maintaining their connection within the community and by supporting others to lead in their own way?
- When it appears to us that chaos reigns in our community, what if like an ant colony, there is actually a deeper organization amidst the chaos that is serving the community as a whole?
Love to hear your own insights after checking the video out!
