The Social Brain

The Psychology of Successful Groups

By: Tracey Camilleri, Samantha Rockey, Robin Dunbar

Narrated by: Anna Wilson-Jones

Brought to you by Penguin.

How many people does the ideal team contain? How do groups bond, earn trust and forge shared identities? How can leaders build environments adaptable enough to respond to shocks and still enable people to thrive together? How can you feel close to people if your only point of contact is a phone or a computer?

In The Social Brain leading experts from the worlds of evolutionary psychology and business management come together to offer a primer on great team working. They explain what size groups work and how to shape them according to the nature of the task at hand. They offer practical hints on how to diffuse tensions and encourage cooperation. And they demonstrate the vital importance of balancing unity and the need for different views and outlooks. By explaining precisely how the 'social brain' works, they show how human groups function and how to create great, high-performing teams.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2023 Robin Dunbar (P)2023 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"Ever since the Industrial Revolution, an engineering mindset has dominated management thinking, making it easy for managers to forget that, ultimately, productive work is human. This wonderful book reminds us that businesses are also biological and social: created by living beings who can - and want to - transcend individual capacity with collective intelligence. It could not be more timely, wise and useful." (Margaret Heffernan, author of Wilful Blindness)

Psychology of successful teams

I enjoyed the reminder of the important elements of having team members feel valued and in turn giving value by managing team size, fostering belonging and bonding in the right environment and building trust!

Original and fascinating

Excellent presented in an interesting way. Relevant for all, leaders and employees. A must read.

'The Social Brain': Enhancing Team Cohesion in an

This is my new favorite book to recommend! It's especially relevant now. In "The Social Brain: The Psychology of Successful Groups," Tracey Camilleri highlights the crucial role of social connections and group dynamics in navigating the tech industry’s challenges, like layoffs and AI integration. The book underscores the importance of maintaining these connections to bolster morale and engagement, particularly during organizational shifts. Camilleri advocates for transparent communication and shared goals to rebuild trust and align team efforts with corporate objectives. As AI reshapes roles, strengthening the human social fabric becomes essential for smooth transitions and sustained innovation in tech environments.

"The Social Brain" offers valuable strategies for harnessing the power of social neuroscience to sustain a resilient and innovative team environment. In doing so, companies can not only survive but thrive amid the uncertainty, harnessing their social capital as a powerful tool for navigating change.