In this enlightening discussion, Professor Robin Dunbar, an expert in evolutionary psychology, and Sam Rockey, a consultancy guru, unravel the complexities of group dynamics. They explore the ideal group sizes for effective decision-making and the concept of Dunbar's number, shedding light on the number of meaningful relationships one can maintain. Insights on fostering trust, the importance of connection in workplaces, and lessons from businesses like SAB Miller provide a roadmap to enhance collaboration. Who knew pubs could improve company culture?
27:42
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
menu_book Books
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
insights INSIGHT
Humans Are Hardwired to Socialize
Humans are inherently social animals shaped by evolutionary psychology to form meaningful social groups.
These groups enable stability and cooperation but become complex when societies grow larger than small hunter-gatherer bands.
question_answer ANECDOTE
SAB Miller's Pub Culture
SAB Miller succeeded globally by creating a central social space like a pub across geographies.
This "third space" fostered cross-functional conversations and a real sense of belonging crucial for collaboration.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Thrive Model for Organizations
Create a collective purpose that excites and binds members of a group or organization.
Build belonging, learning, shared values, connection, trust, and culture through rituals to enable a thriving workplace.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
What is the ideal number of people to involve in a collective decision? What do we need to be happy - and effective - in a group? Why should more companies have pubs?
Professor Robin Dunbar is Professor of Evolutionary Psychology at the University of Oxford. He’s famous for Dunbar’s number - the limit to the amount of meaningful relationships that we can have at any one time (listen to the podcast to find out what it is). Sam Rockey is an Associate Fellow at Saïd Business School - also at Oxford - and a consultant who has helped many multi-nationals improve their performance. Their book (with Tracey Camilleri), The Social Brain: The Psychology of Successful Groups, looks at how we function collectively, why we’re hard-wired to do so and how to create more powerful organisations - including how we make decisions.
Key Topics:
Evolutionary Roots of Decision-Making: Humans thrive in social groups, but modern structures create new challenges.
Optimal Group Sizes for Decision-Making:
4-5: Quick, effective decisions.
6-12: Best for brainstorming.
12-15: Ideal for complex discussions.
The Social Brain & Business Strategy: Lessons from SAB Miller on fostering connection and collaboration.
The Thrive Model for Organizations:
Collective Purpose
Belonging & Trust
Learning & Culture
Shared Values
Leadership & Decision-Making: Insights from Jeff Bezos & Elon Musk on meeting efficiency.
The Role of Trust: Trust enables faster, better decisions.
Reimagining the Future of Work: Moving beyond industrial-era business models.
The Art of Deciding 
