Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don’t

Throughout this part, Sinek emphasizes that human beings are social by nature. As a basic need, socializing in the workplace is not a luxury reserved for a select few. Since homo sapiens took their first steps thousands of years ago, community was—and continues to be—our primary mode of existence. Even in the direst of circumstances, “we are at our best when we face danger together” (41). While Paleolithic era survival looked different, its essence remains: Belonging to a group is a question of safety, both physical and emotional.

To further illustrate our biological need for safety, Sinek breaks down the four chemical incentives in our bodies: endorphins, dopamine, serotonin and oxytocin. The first two, endorphins and dopamine, are described as selfish chemicals that contextualize our need for accomplishment and invention. The final two, serotonin and oxytocin, are selfless chemicals that “incentivize us to work together and develop feelings of trust and loyalty” (46). The four together determine our biological needs and instincts, both of which are important to consider when understanding our place within larger wholes.

Sinek mentions a fifth chemical,

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