We live in a world where technology has changed the way we interact with one another, and our workplace environment is no exception. While modern workplaces are designed to increase efficiency, productivity, and collaboration, many of them ignore the most basic of human needs. Developmental molecular biologist John Medina notes that the modern workplace does not take into account our ancient survival instincts—and these drives can negatively influence our ability to feel safe, engaged, and productive.
Our ancient survival instincts, also known as evolutionary heritage, are embedded within us. They are hard-wired reactions that kick in when our safety, security, or well-being is threatened. These include the fight-or-flight response, which is a physiological reaction that signals when we are faced with danger and prepares us to respond. When it comes to the workplace, our fight-or-flight response can be triggered by a variety of things such as looming deadlines, intense competition, feeling like we lack control over our schedule, or simply feeling overwhelmed. As a result, we can become stressed, anxious, and eventually burned out.
As Medina explains, “The brain is designed to survive, and it does an excellent job of it, having been around for hundreds of millions of years.” But modern workplaces are designed for efficiency, so often the goal is to get more done in less time. This can pressure people to work longer hours and produce more, faster. Moreover, many workplaces don’t provide enough downtime, healthy nourishment, or changes in routine. Thus, the modern workplace can effectively undermine our physiological needs, making us feel stressed, anxious, and exhausted.
Clearly, modern workplaces don't take our ancient survival instincts into account, which can not only affect our psychological well-being, but also influence our physical health. According to the American Institute of Stress, stress can lead to many physical ailments, including fatigue, insomnia, headaches, upset stomachs, and heart problems. Too much stress can even lower our immune systems, causing us to get sick more often.
So, how can we make modern workplaces more brain-friendly? Medina offers four key principles we can follow:
1. Give employees autonomy. Give people responsibility for their own work, communicate clear expectations, and allow people the space to think for themselves.
2. Set reasonable goals. Establish realistic deadlines and recognize that most tasks require deeper thought and cannot be rushed.
3. Offer breaks. Take time to give your brain a rest from prolonged periods of activity.
4. Encourage communication. Create an environment where people feel comfortable speaking freely and don’t feel scared or ashamed to share their ideas.
By following these simple principles, we can create working environments that are more hospitable to our ancient survival instincts. That way, we can reap the benefits of modern technology without sacrificing our well-being.
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