We humans are social beings that thrive when working in groups. Throughout history we have been enhanced our chances of survival by sharing resources, knowledge and workloads. Isolation from a group decreased our survival chances. As a result, our brain is highly aware of our ongoing social status. Is there a thread or reward? Do I feel safe? Today, the workplace is the biggest social environment the brain experiences.
So our brains do not operate in isolation to one another. Everything continues to build on each other. We are incredibly social creatures. Our brain is not only connected to every cell in our body. A surprising, direct and subconscious connection exists with brains of other people via our senses. Whether we realize or not, we are constantly reading each other’s facial expressions and body language. Our brain is constantly providing us with feedback in our social interactions with others and our environment. There are fluid borders between internal and external worlds. A workplace is an energy field. Good and bad energy – trust and fear – move in waves around us. We can feel them if we are paying attention. Aren’t we all bound together in ways that can be invisible to the eye?
Some food for thought and fuel for introspection
See the full show of my conversation with Peter Clarke here