National Learning Institute

Hardwired Humans

Andrew O'Keeffe

Reviewed by admin Mon 27 Jun 11

Bob's Rating:

This book is about life and leadership in organisations. It's about how our human instincts play such a pivotal role in the way we behave. In "Hardwired Humans", author Andrew O'Keeffe draws on his vast experience as an Industrial Relations and Human Resources Manager, and his perceptions as a student of behaviour - animal and human - to provide a fabulous guide book for leaders and aspiring leaders.

The underpinnings of this book are our instincts - how do we come by them, how do they affect everything we do, and how can we best use them? O'Keeffe shows how our human instincts have developed over the millennia, going way back to our early ancestors who roamed the Savannah plains. In doing so, he also relates these developments to the behaviour of the chimpanzees of today, another social animal.

The author recounts stories of animal instincts from such notable social anthropologists as Dr. Jane Goodall, draws on some of the most relevant social psychological research, and uses his own observations of both people and chimps, to define nine human instincts.

Each chapter explains one of the nine instincts - how and why it is important - and lists the implications for leaders. The book is well written with plenty of examples to illustrate key points. Some of the points that took my interest included:

• Groups - "... the natural order of human groups is to indeed have a leader. The leader has a licence to lead. Without leadership, human groups become dysfunctional."
• Managers - the most important thing a manager can do is to "enable your people to move forward in their work ... Any manager is capable of being an enabling manager."
• The Gossip Test - What will others say after (the appraisal, interview, meeting etc.)? And for example, the need to actively manage this by selecting five words that you would like people to use to describe you, and then set about applying these behaviours.

There are many more little gems of wisdom waiting for the reader in Hardwired Humans. My recommendation for managers and aspiring leaders would be to grab a copy and start working with your natural instincts straight away.

Bob Selden, author "What To Do When You Become The Boss: How new managers become successful managers". 5/5