Written by Deborah Mazoudier, Founder & Principal Tender Specialist (Brisbane)

I was at a plant and garden market on the weekend and one of the stalls was selling home made honey and providing information on beekeeping. I went to the market to buy a some succulents (my new obsession), but I found myself fascinated. And yes, like many things in my life, I started to see how bees in a colony resembled a well-honed tender team.

Bees in a colony and a tender team working together to produce the best possible solution for a client might seem like two very different concepts at first glance. However, both have an incredible level of cooperation and teamwork that allows them to achieve their goals.

Bees have a very structured society, with each bee having a specific role to play. The queen bee is responsible for laying eggs and the colony responds to her directions and leadership. Without it, the whole hive would be at a loss. The worker bees are responsible for tasks such as gathering nectar and pollen, building and maintaining the hive, and caring for the young. Finally, the drones are responsible for, well … how should I put it … the next generation. Each bee in the colony has a job to do, and they work together to ensure the survival of the colony as a whole.

Similarly, a tender team is made up of individuals with different skill sets and responsibilities. The team must work together to create the best possible solution to offer a client. Each member of the tender team has a specific role to play. Just like in a bee colony, each member of the tender team must work together to achieve their goal. This requires clear communication and genuine cooperation, as each member must understand their role and how it fits into the larger picture.

One of the key similarities between bees and a tender team is the importance of communication. Bees communicate with each other through a complex dance language that allows them to share information about food sources, the location of the hive, and potential threats. Now, I am not saying a tender team needs to engage in interpretive dance throughout the bid, but I am saying that a bid team must clearly define how it will communicate and ensure that each team member is aware of their responsibilities and has the information they need to do their job properly.

Another important similarity between bees and a tender team is the importance of specialisation. Bees are specialised based on their role, with each bee having specific physical and behavioral adaptations that allow them to perform their tasks effectively. Similarly, members of a tender team are specialised based on their skill sets and experience, with each member bringing unique knowledge and expertise to the table. In both cases, this specialisation allows the team to work more efficiently and effectively. However, it's important to note that specialisation alone is not enough. Just like in a bee colony, each member of a tender team must be willing to work together and cooperate to achieve their goals. It’s the effective combination of expertise that makes or breaks a successful bid.

And finally, both bees and a tender team must be able to adapt to changing circumstances. Bees must be able to respond to changes in the environment, such as a sudden shortage of food or an attack from a predator. Similarly, a tender team must be able to adapt to changes in the market, the needs of the client or dynamics within the team or tender over time. In both cases, this requires a willingness to be flexible and to work together to find solutions to new challenges.

Thinking maybe bees are my next great obsession … that or interpretive dance.