Tri Plenary

Successful Leadership Using Human Instinct

Andrew OKeeffe
Director
Hardwired Humans

Andrew OKeeffe

Common Frustrations
in Organisations
Silos and internal competition
Giving and receiving feedback
Difficulties managing change
Power of the informal grapevine

Performance appraisal system

Andrew OKeeffe

Andrew OKeeffe

Andrew OKeeffe

Andrew OKeeffe

Andrew OKeeffe

Andrew OKeeffe

Andrew OKeeffe

Andrew OKeeffe

Human Nature

What are our natural behaviours that

make us human?

Andrew OKeeffe

Hardwired Human Instincts

Emotions Before Reason

Source: Nigel Nicholson, London Business School, Managing The Human Animal, and Harvard Business Review JulyAugust 1998

Andrew OKeeffe

Andrew OKeeffe

Andrew OKeeffe

Hardwired Human Instincts

Emotions Before Reason

First Impressions to Classify

Source: Nigel Nicholson, London Business School, Managing The Human Animal, and Harvard Business Review JulyAugust 1998

Andrew OKeeffe

Andrew OKeeffe

Andrew OKeeffe

Stimulus

Good
Andrew OKeeffe

Bad

Being Understood

Good Idea
Andrew OKeeffe

Bad Idea

Being Understood

2 seconds =

Good Idea
Andrew OKeeffe

First 7 Words

Bad Idea

Its a great
new tax on
everything

Andrew OKeeffe

Hardwired Human Instincts

Emotions Before Reason

First Impressions to Classify

Loss Aversion

Source: Nigel Nicholson, London Business School, Managing The Human Animal, and Harvard Business Review JulyAugust 1998

Andrew OKeeffe

Andrew OKeeffe

Andrew OKeeffe

Andrew OKeeffe

Change

Good
Andrew OKeeffe

Bad

Hardwired Human Instincts

Emotions Before Reason

Gossip

First Impressions to Classify

Loss Aversion

Source: Nigel Nicholson, London Business School, Managing The Human Animal, and Harvard Business Review JulyAugust 1998

Andrew OKeeffe

Andrew OKeeffe

Andrew OKeeffe

Andrew OKeeffe

Hardwired Human Instincts

Emotions Before Reason

Gossip

First Impressions to Classify

Confidence Before Realism

Loss Aversion

Source: Nigel Nicholson, London Business School, Managing The Human Animal, and Harvard Business Review JulyAugust 1998

Andrew OKeeffe

Andrew OKeeffe

Andrew OKeeffe

Hardwired Human Instincts

Emotions Before Reason

Gossip

First Impressions to Classify

Confidence Before Realism

Loss Aversion

Social Belonging Family of 7 and

Clan of up to 150

Source: Nigel Nicholson, London Business School, Managing The Human Animal, and Harvard Business Review JulyAugust 1998

Andrew OKeeffe

Andrew OKeeffe

Andrew OKeeffe

Andrew OKeeffe

Andrew OKeeffe

Hardwired Human Instincts

Emotions Before Reason

Gossip

First Impressions to Classify

Confidence Before Realism

Loss Aversion

Social Belonging Family of 7 and

Clan of up to 150

Source: Nigel Nicholson, London Business School, Managing The Human Animal, and Harvard Business Review JulyAugust 1998

Andrew OKeeffe

Applying Instincts
1. Change management
2. Leadership development
3. People practices and organisation design

Andrew OKeeffe

Shift in Leader Styles after 12 Months

April 2011

Leaders on a zoo program over 12

months. Nine groups of around 12
leaders. Almost all groups have
shown similar shift.

Copyright 2011 Human Synergistics International

Andrew OKeeffe

April 2012

Continuing Your Instincts Learning

Journey
Hardwired Humans book

Monthly newsletter at www.hardwiredhumans.com

Next zoo workshop at Taronga, 23 24 July 2013

andrewo@hardwiredhumans.com www.hardwiredhumans.com
Andrew OKeeffe

The Key Takeaways

1. If we know our natural instincts, we can make
informed choices
2. We are not wired to resist change we screen for
loss
3. Snap judgments to classify within 2 seconds!
4. Critical role of leaders as a social species
Andrew OKeeffe

Andrew OKeeffe