MIddletown, DE — Communication consultant Jodie Schram recently delivered a presentation on effective communication to fellows of both LEAD Maryland and LEADelaware, drawing on an unexpected teacher: the honeybee.
In her presentation, Schram used metaphors and comparisons from the natural world to illustrate what makes communication succeed or fail. At the heart of her message was the honeybee, a creature whose survival depends entirely on its ability to communicate clearly and cooperatively with its hive.
Honeybees, Schram explained, share vital information through remarkably precise signals, most famously the “waggle dance,” through which a single bee can tell thousands of hive mates the exact direction and distance to a food source. There is no ambiguity, no competition for attention, and no room for miscommunication; the colony’s well-being depends on every member conveying and receiving information accurately.
Schram encouraged participants to bring those same qualities–clarity, collaboration, and civility–into their own discourse, whether around the kitchen table, in the boardroom, or in the public square. Just as a hive thrives when its members work in concert toward a shared purpose, she noted, communities and organizations flourish when their members communicate with precision, listen with intention, and treat one another with respect, even in disagreement.
The presentation resonated with fellows from both programs, which develop agricultural and rural leaders across the Delmarva region. LEAD Maryland and LEADelaware each prepare emerging leaders to serve their industries and communities, and effective communication is a cornerstone of that preparation.
“Disagreement doesn’t end conversations, but disrespect does,” Schram said. “When we make room for dissent and answer it with genuine respect and care, people stay in the conversation. And that’s where real persuasion, real connection, and real change-making begin.”
For more information about the presentation or to inquire about future speaking engagements, contact Rivers & Roads Consulting.
About LEAD Maryland
The LEAD Maryland Fellowship Program, a University of Maryland Extension Signature Program, is provided through a collaborative effort between the LEAD Maryland Foundation and the University of Maryland Extension, along with many other organizations, businesses, and individuals that work to fund, plan, implement, and evaluate the program and its activities. LEAD Maryland Foundation, Inc. is dedicated to identifying and developing leadership to serve agriculture, natural resources, and rural communities.
About LEADelaware
LEADelaware is an agriculture and natural resources leadership program designed to help build the next generation of leaders within the food and fiber industries. Through the program, Fellows are better equipped to understand and address challenges related to the local, regional, and global food system, economy, and environment.
Is your organization helping leaders communicate clearly when the stakes are high?
Rivers & Roads Consulting designs and facilitates practical communication, leadership, and engagement workshops for organizations, cohorts, and community leaders. From boardrooms to public meetings, we help teams strengthen clarity, collaboration, and trust so difficult conversations can lead to stronger relationships and better decisions.
