Chapter 2: Vision Rules the Hive
Leaders are the attendant bees, stewards of the vision
Picture a beehive – the whole show is run by the queen bee. In a thriving organization, the queen is vision. The vision not only defines why the organization exists, it also guides the entire entity, from base level employees to leadership teams to even customers. As Simon Sinek says in Start with Why: “People don’t buy what you do; they buy why you do it.”
Successful organizations are driven by a vision, and this outlasts even iconic CEOs. While Steve Jobs may be synonymous with Apple, the true queen of the Apple hive is its belief in “challenging the status quo.” That vision endures, even after Jobs is gone.
How Your Leadership Team Should Attend to Brand Mission
In a beehive, the queen is protected by attendant bees who cater to her every need. In a thriving brand, the vision is protected by a dedicated leadership team.
Here’s how leaders can protect and nurture brand vision, inspired by our bee friends:
1. Feeding the Vision
While bees feed their queen, leadership feeds the brand vision. This means they invest time and resources to make sure the vision remains relevant and central to the whole organization. If leadership catches a gap in the vision or conditions change they may have to refine the vision for long term success.
2. Spreading the Vision
Bees spread their queen’s pheromones throughout the hive (keep reading) and similarly, leadership must spread the brand vision through the entire organization. All employees and customers should understand what the brand stands for. All communications and actions should directly reflect these values.
3. Guarding the Vision
In the hive, bees are always ready to guard their queen with a sting if needed. Leadership should guard the brand vision by holding employees and processes accountable when they stray from the brand vision and values. This protects the whole brand.
Related hive blogs
Chapter 1: Introducing the Hive Experience
Chapter 3
Real-World Examples
The Patriot Way: A Vision that Lost Its Strength
For 20 years, the New England Patriots thrived under a clear vision: The Patriot Way. This philosophy—“team excellence comes from everyone doing their job”—was simple, powerful, and unifying.
Leaders like Tom Brady and Bill Belichick reinforced the vision, ensuring the team lived its values. But when both left the organization, the brand faltered. Without strong leadership to steward and protect the vision, the Patriot Way lost its power, and the team’s performance suffered.
Neighborly: A Vision That Transcends Brands
Neighborly, a global franchise company, thrives under a clearly defined vision: its very own “Code of Values”. These values—respect, integrity, customer focus, and having fun—unite its brands, employees, and customers.
Cascading Messages: Employees carry the values in their wallets and recite them in meetings. This daily reinforcement ensures alignment and builds a sense of belonging.
Consistent Brand Experience: Every Neighborly brand delivers a unified customer experience that allows customer trust and loyalty to thrive. Franchisees must adhere to this established experience to join the hive, creating consistency across the organization.
Neighborly demonstrates how a vision fostered by the leadership team creates a strong organization (hive), where employees and customers feel inspired and connected.
Your Brand’s Vision Shows the Way
A healthy, well-defined vision is the foundation of an exceptional brand experience.
As you reflect on your organization, consider:
• Does your hive have a clearly defined vision?
• Is it inspiring and inclusive enough to unite everyone?
• Are you creating an environment where people feel they truly belong?
Final Thoughts: Start with the Vision
Your brand experience begins with a clear, compelling vision that unites your hive. Leadership’s role is to make sure the vision is communicated effectively throughout the entirety of the organization. When your organization rallies around one aligned purpose, it creates an environment where employees and customers flourish.
What is your hive?
Here’s ours:
REGROUP is a full-service, independent brand transformation agency. We help complex organizations gain alignment under one unified marketing strategy through our brand and performance solutions.
Andre Mello is the VP of Engagement and Growth at REGROUP. With over 25 years of marketing experience in the franchise and financial services sectors, Andre is passionate about creating thriving hives. Reach out to him directly.
Related hive blogs
Chapter 1: Introducing the Hive Experience
