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What does it take to get ahead in the world? Do we need to claw our way to the top, determined to win at all costs? Or can we succeed by bringing others along, working for mutual gain? In this latest episode of the Changemakers’ Field Guide, I explore the value of cooperation through the lens of evolutionary psychology, as part of a series looking at dealing with people.

Studying the past, and in particular how our ancient ancestors managed to survive and ultimately flourish in a landscape filled with danger. Contrary to what we often hear, fierce competitiveness and being the strongest isn’t a guarantee for survival. Those humans who survived and passed on their genes didn’t succeed just through brute force or ruthlessness. Rather, their superpower was cooperation. They outcooperated their prey and rival animals competing for that prey. They were better at sharing knowledge and skills than any other animal. We’re here today because of their ability to cooperate well.

While our challenges today are very different from our ancient ancestors on the savanna, cooperation remains a critical skill. Realistically, cooperation is more important than ever in the complex and deeply interconnected world we live in. Join me as I look at ways we can cooperate better and ensure our story continues to be told!