Business people can learn a lot from human evolution. Of all the animals in the world, humans are by no means the strongest or even the fastest. We owe our survival to being the smartest. Our brains evolved to solve problems related to surviving in an ever-changing and often hostile outdoor environment, so as to live long enough to pass along our genes to the next generation.
Our ability to solve problems, learn from our mistakes, and create connections with other people helped our species survive in a very dangerous world. Humans took over the world by learning to cooperate and form teams. Our ability to understand each other was our most significant survival tool. Thinking through problems, establishing relationships, and working collaboratively helped us survive in the jungle.
These skills are critical to surviving in business today. If someone does not feel safe on the job they will not perform as well. If employees feel misunderstood they become isolated and their performance suffers. There is no greater anti-brain environment than the office or cubicle. Our brains and our social networks have evolved to maximize our survival in both the natural and business worlds. By understanding our evolutionary strengths and adapting the work environment to leverage these strengths rather than ignoring them, businesses are more apt to prosper.
Is your business placing employees in situations that are contrary to the way evolution has adopted us?
