Royal Succession 

The talk in the Gentleman’s Club turned to the very sensitive topic of Royal Succession. It was a difficult subject and to help ease their consciences they referred to it as the ‘greater good’. In this way, they did not feel disloyal in talking about raising a new queen.

After droning on for some time, it became clear that the time for a new queen was fast approaching. Yet, the timing of royal succession was fraught with difficulties and none of them were keen on raising the issue with Queen Beatrice.

Drononimus was now used to giving the Consultanz the difficult issues needing to be addressed and he persuaded the other Drones to let them help with this most sensitive of topics.

The next day there was a ratatat on the door of the hive.

Drononimus briefed the Consultantz. Tonee summed up at the end, ‘Wee are deelighted to help.’ Tonee continued and Drononimus’ thoughts wandered for a moment. At the end of this he was sure that Tonee had said something about market forces but he failed to see what markets had to do with anything. He made a mental note to follow more carefully in future what the Consultantz said.

The young and enthusiastic Consultantz flooded in carrying their clipboards and stopwatches. 

Two days later the Consultants returned to make a presentation.

Tonee began in his high-pitched manner, ‘Gentlemen, eeet is clear that here is an opportunity to beeat your competitors.’ Drononimus was not quite sure who Tonee was referring to but decided to keep quiet. Tonee continued, ‘Raising your own successor is so outdated. You need the very best talent available.’

‘Best talent?’ Drononimus repeated, unsure as to what talent had to do with being a queen.

‘Yes,’ Tonee added almost triumphantly, ‘you neeed the veeery best and the good neeews is that we specialize in thiiis. Trust us, we will find the veeery best talent that there is out theeere. Don’t waste your eeefforts in feeding your precious royal jelly to just a feeew seeelected successors, use it as an inceeentive to the rest. I suggest you give more royal jelly to your hardest workers so long as they have reached performance targets.’

‘Performance targets!’ Drononimus repeated quizzically.

‘Yes,’ Tonee said confidently, ‘there is no performance management here at all. Once we have found your royal successor this is something we can help train you in.’

Drononimus liked the idea of having help in this most tricky area of royal succession but was very uneasy about this so-called performance management. He agreed to Tonee’s suggestion to provide their next queen but he wondered whether he should continue using the services of the Consultanz after this.