Using Human Instincts in the
World of Work
Andrew O’Keeffe
Hardwired Humans
Common Frustrations
for Leaders
• Silos and internal competition
• Feedback and managing poor performers
• Implementing change is difficult
• Power of the informal grapevine
• Performance appraisal system
Human Nature
What are our natural behaviours that
make us human?
Hardwired Human Instincts
Emotion Before Reason
First Impressions to Classify
Source: Nigel Nicholson, London Business School, Managing The Human Animal, and Harvard Business Review July–August 1998
Stimulus
Good
Source: Andrew O’Keeffe, Hardwired Humans
Bad
Quick to Judge – a Teacher
Evaluation after a full semester (13 teachers)
Accepting
Active
Anxious
Attentive
competent
Confident
Dominant
Empathetic
Enthusiastic
Honest
Likeable
Optimistic
Professional
Supportive
Warm
Source: Nalini Ambady and Robert Rosenthal, “Half a Minute: Predicting Teacher Evaluations From This Slices of Nonverbal Behavior and
Physical Attractiveness” in Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 1993, Vol 64. Mo 3, 431-441
Quick to Judge – a Teacher
Evaluation after a full semester (13 teachers)
30 seconds
Accepting
Active
Anxious
Attentive
competent
Confident
Dominant
Empathetic
Enthusiastic
Honest
Likeable
Optimistic
Professional
Supportive
Warm
Source: Nalini Ambady and Robert Rosenthal, “Half a Minute: Predicting Teacher Evaluations From This Slices of Nonverbal Behavior and
Physical Attractiveness” in Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 1993, Vol 64. Mo 3, 431-441
Quick to Judge – a Teacher
Evaluation after a full semester (13 teachers)
30 seconds
Accepting (0.6)
Active (0.89)
Anxious
Attentive
competent
Confident
Dominant
Empathetic
Enthusiastic
Honest
Likeable
Optimistic
Professional
Supportive
Warm
Source: Nalini Ambady and Robert Rosenthal, “Half a Minute: Predicting Teacher Evaluations From This Slices of Nonverbal Behavior and
Physical Attractiveness” in Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 1993, Vol 64. Mo 3, 431-441
Quick to Judge – a Teacher
Evaluation after a full semester (13 teachers)
30 seconds
15 seconds
Accepting (0.6)
Active (0.89)
Anxious
Attentive
competent
Confident
Dominant
Empathetic
Enthusiastic
Honest
Likeable
Optimistic
Professional
Supportive
Warm
Source: Nalini Ambady and Robert Rosenthal, “Half a Minute: Predicting Teacher Evaluations From This Slices of Nonverbal Behavior and
Physical Attractiveness” in Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 1993, Vol 64. Mo 3, 431-441
Quick to Judge – a Teacher
Evaluation after a full semester (13 teachers)
30 seconds
15 seconds
6 secs
Accepting (0.6)
Active (0.89)
Anxious
Attentive
competent
Confident
Dominant
Empathetic
Enthusiastic
Honest
Likeable
Optimistic
Professional
Supportive
Warm
Source: Nalini Ambady and Robert Rosenthal, “Half a Minute: Predicting Teacher Evaluations From This Slices of Nonverbal Behavior and
Physical Attractiveness” in Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 1993, Vol 64. Mo 3, 431-441
Being Understood
Good Idea
Source: Andrew O’Keeffe, Hardwired Humans
Bad Idea
Being Understood
2 seconds =
Good Idea
Source: Andrew O’Keeffe, Hardwired Humans
Bad Idea
Being Understood
2 seconds =
Good Idea
Source: Andrew O’Keeffe, Hardwired Humans
First 7 Words
Bad Idea
Hardwired Human Instincts
Emotion Before Reason
First Impressions to Classify
Loss Aversion
Source: Nigel Nicholson, London Business School, Managing The Human Animal, and Harvard Business Review July–August 1998
Change
Good
Source: Andrew O’Keeffe, Hardwired Humans
Bad
Change
Good
Source: Andrew O’Keeffe, Hardwired Humans
Bad
Hardwired Human Instincts
Emotions Before Reason
Confidence Before Realism
First Impressions to Classify
Contest and Display
Loss Aversion
Social Belonging – Family of 7 and
Clan of up to 150
Gossip
Hierarchy and Status
Empathy and Mind Reading
Source: Nigel Nicholson, London Business School, Managing The Human Animal, and Harvard Business Review July–August 1998
Continuing Your
Learning Journey
1. Hardwired Humans book
2. Subscribe to free monthly newsletter
3. Next zoo program
Taronga Zoo, Sydney 30 April – 1 May
4. Accreditation in Hardwired Humans
Taronga Zoo, Sydney plus 2 – 3 May
andrewo@hardwiredhumans.com 0412 616 047
www.hardwiredhumans.com