1. 1/3 of my garden was under flood water for 2.5 years. A new land drain has been laid and it is dry.
2. We have two new colonies of bees settling in. Like many beekeepers, we lost a colony over the winter; probably the queen was elderly and died. The workers hung on but with no leader, who lays eggs to replenish the workers, it was only a matter of time before they gave up.
What have I learned?
· There are times when great perseverance is required. I had to campaign on two levels to persuade individuals and organisations to take responsibility for the flood and its solution.
o Eventually the water company admitted it was their water, found the major cause and the flood considerably reduced.
o However, leaky pipes from 100-year-old houses up the road from me are bound to continue. Getting new land drains required a very long discussion with the housing association who own 2 houses in the terrace.
o I had to find people of influence who would fight my cause. Local TV, Councillor, MP, Council department who fund the housing association and environmental flood department. I could go on!
· It is easy to feel inadequate when you are a beekeeper with L-plates. I felt bad about the failing hive – these little creatures are important to the world.
o My daughter told me to give up if beekeeping gave more worry than pleasure. That brought out the fighter in me and we put ourselves on the swarm list.
o Then a kind person offered a swarm they had been nurturing and another person had a colony they had bred for sale.
o So here we have kindness at work in the beekeeping fraternity. People are happy to do favours and pass on their knowledge. I just had to ask and admit I needed more help.
o And I also need to take responsibility myself by doing some more reading up my understanding and skills.
When have you persevered over a protracted period of time?
· What did you learn that can be retained for future situations?
· How do you encourage yourself to continue to campaign for what it ‘right’ so that the relevant people/organisations take responsibility for the results of their neglect?
o How do you manage to do so without making an enemy and, instead, encourage them to step up while also finding those who can put a bit of pressure on them to do so!
Do you feel disempowered by a lack of knowledge and skills?
· Ask for help – discover who to ask and go ahead.
· The Queen bee is a dictator and when she dies, or absconds with most of the colony in a swarm, the other bees are doomed.
o How do you prevent a great leader becoming a dictator or being so excellent that everyone relies on them and fails to prepare for succession by raising new leaders?
I’d love a conversation with you if you are interested in what coaching can empower you to do.