Our behaviour is driven by 4 chemicals in our brains (neurotransmitters):

* Dopamine

* Endorphin

* Serotonin

* Oxytocin

These provide different forms of happiness, but they're not *feelings*. They're what we needed to survive.

And we also need cortisol. The stress hormone.

Dopamine is the addiction chemical.

It's triggered when we complete a goal: it drove us to hunt for food. Now it pushes us to get more likes.

When balanced with other drives it's great. Alone it is dangerous.

Dopamine gives short term pleasure. But it isn't fulfilling.

Cortisol, on the other hand, is the stress hormone.

It prepares your body for fight or flight: higher adrenaline. But also lower IQ & empathy.

=> Not a recipe for long term success in the workplace.

What is the solution? The "circle of trust". And how do you build trust?

Serotonin is the leadership chemical.

It's what the "alpha male" and "alpha female" of a pack have.

It defines the social structure of the tribe.

It drives self confidence.

But what is it for?

The group is not giving all that away for free.

Leadership / serotonin comes at a cost.

We expect the person who's actually stronger & better fed to runs towards the danger. To protect the tribe.

This is what it means to be a leader.

This is what builds trust.

Oxytocin is the feeling of love and trust and friendship.

It's the reason we like to spend time with our friends.

Oxytocin is an intense feeling of safety

Oxytocin inhibits addiction, boosts your immune system and makes you healthier.

It increases our ability to solve problems & our creativity.

And it is build by leaders taking the brunt of the danger, and building a circle of trust.

Deep down, we're still cavemen.

We're hardwired to survive together. Our chemicals evolved to make us cooperative, not competitive.

True success comes from supporting each other, not just individual achievement.

And from our leaders eating last.

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