Business people can learn a lot from human evolution. After all, out of all the animals in the world, humans are by no means the strongest or fastest. We don’t have claws like a bear or the speed of a cheetah. Yet, humans managed not just to survive—but to dominate. Why? Because we evolved to be the smartest. Our brains were shaped by the pressures of surviving in an unpredictable and often hostile natural world. This evolutionary design wasn’t just about avoiding predators or hunting for food—it was about solving problems, making social connections, and adapting quickly to new environments.
Our survival hinged on one crucial advantage: the ability to work together.
We thrived by learning to form teams, build trust, and share knowledge. Early humans who collaborated survived longer and passed their genes forward. As Yuval Noah Harari points out in Sapiens, it was our unique capacity to create “shared myths”—belief systems that allow us to cooperate in large groups—that gave us an edge over every other species.
Fast forward to today’s workplace, and you’ll find many environments that ignore these deep-rooted evolutionary advantages. Gray cubicles, poor communication, and siloed teams are the modern equivalent of isolating a caveman from his tribe. In fact, these work conditions often suppress the very traits that helped our ancestors survive: communication, trust, and collaborative problem-solving.
When employees don’t feel safe—emotionally or socially—they operate in survival mode. This “fight or flight” response diverts brainpower away from creative thinking and strategic problem-solving, the very skills businesses value most. Studies in neuroscience show that psychological safety is critical for high-performing teams. According to research by Amy Edmondson at Harvard Business School, teams that feel safe to take risks and express ideas outperform those that do not.
Think of it like this: your business is its own jungle. But are you enabling your tribe to survive and thrive—or are you placing them in artificial environments that go against millions of years of brain evolution?
Here are a few ways to align your business environment with our evolutionary wiring:
Foster Belonging: Our ancestors relied on the tribe for survival. Employees today need to feel like they are part of a team, not just a cog in the machine.
Encourage Open Communication: Just like early humans shared stories around the fire, today’s workers thrive in environments where dialogue flows freely.
Promote Autonomy and Purpose: Empowering people to take ownership of their tasks mirrors the self-reliance that helped us adapt to changing conditions.
Design for Movement: Our brains evolved outdoors, not in desk chairs. Allow space for physical movement, walking meetings, or breaks that reconnect people with their bodies.
And above all, don’t mistake structure for security. Excessive rigidity can backfire, creating stress and disengagement. Just as our ancestors adapted to new climates and challenges, modern workers thrive in flexible, responsive environments.
As a leader, you can either fight against the current of evolution—or flow with it. The choice will determine not just your workplace culture, but your business outcomes.
Is your workplace designed for the evolved brain—or are you expecting cavepeople to thrive in cubicles?
