‘As busy as an ant’ is a term we often use about busyness. Most animals are fastidious in their daily tasks and will usually be assigned roles within their group that they are expected to perform. They work from dusk to dawn and are relentless until their mission is complete. It is not only ants but the species’ behavior closest to humanity: apes, who work together for their troop.
Being busy is seen as a sign of productivity and admired within society and especially treasured in many organizations. Therefore, the individual who works late and on weekends receives recognition for their devotion and hard work.
Do we step back to assess what busy is or what they are busy with? Are they focused on the task at hand and doing it well? Have they prioritized their time to attend to the vital work required? Are they efficient in their jobs and executing them well? Do they stay with their role and responsibilities?
Or, are they busy with tasks not within their role and responsibility? Are they so distracted with what others are doing that they are incapable of attending to their roles? Are they performing work that is not of most importance? This applies not only to the task performed but also to the attendance of various meetings. Do they need to be at the meeting? What is their role? Is this a meeting the organization should be holding? Is this aligned with our objectives?
Could we not look to the animal kingdom and their efficiency and wonder how we can be more like ants and apes in productivity, working purposefully, methodically, and consistently together to achieve the community’s goals? And then we rest together.
Imagine in these groupings how the errant participant is regarded.
