Books by Andrew O’Keeffe

Hardwired Humans

Successful Leadership Using Human Instincts

Offices are not our natural habitat.

Leadership is easier when you understand the nine instincts that still drive human behaviour.

Hardwired Humans shares a practical framework that helps makes sense of human behaviour and allows leaders to manage more effectively.

With the Industrial Revolution only 250 years ago, we left our hunting, gathering and village societies to work in offices and factories. However, we did not leave behind the instincts of social interaction we inherited from our ancestors.

The behaviour that ensured our survival on the savannah plains of Africa causes tremendous challenges in today’s workplace. Yet an understanding of instinctive behaviour also provides solutions to the challenges that leaders commonly face.

As you read this entertaining book, you will learn how the instincts of clan connections, hierarchy, gossip, politics, snap judgments, status displays and sexual competition continue to drive modern office interactions just as they have driven human interaction for millennia.

At our core we are social animals. In Hardwired Humans, understanding our nature as social animals is enhanced by sharing true stories about chimpanzees from Taronga Zoo, Sydney and Gombe, Tanzania.

Witty and well researched, this actionable framework will bring you back to the basics of human nature and guide you down the path to effective leadership in the 21st century.

The Boss

The Boss is a novel based on true stories about bosses.

The Boss is based on true stories gathered by the author over many years. The book tells a story about the impact of work on the human spirit.

Lauren Johnson is a talented marketing professional in her thirties who changes jobs to escape the torment of a horrid manager. But her dream job turns sour due to the erratic behaviour of the dysfunctional executive team. Lauren just wants to do her job, but is constantly obstructed by the intimidating tactics of some managers, or the compliant behaviour of others, until finally she has to respond or have her spirit crushed.

Underpinning the story are two leadership concepts. The first is our hardwired instincts as humans (see Hardwired Humans for the 9 instincts) and the second is the leadership model from Human Synergistics: the boss characters are either constructive, passive or aggressive managers.

The Boss was honoured as a finalist in the Best New Fiction category of USA Book News “National Best Books 2009 Awards”

‘One of the best business books I have read this year.’
Geraldine McBride, then CEO of SAP Australia and New Zealand, reported in AFR Boss magazine

‘A must read….’
Human Resources Magazine

‘Deftly written…’
The Australian

‘The Boss is a great read, and thoroughly recommended.’
Murray Peters, radio 2ST