HOW OXYTOCIN HELPS YOUR BUSINESS AND HOW TO MAKE MORE OF IT

What’s oxytocin?

The molecule (hormone) of social bonding.

It’s released any time we are going through any experience that has a social component - basically anything that has to do with people - in person, online, in stories.

I’ve just finished another book by Paul J Zak, the author of IMMERSION, I wrote about it in my previous post "Impactful Educator: 3 ideas from the Neuroscience of Immersion with Paul J. Zak".

Paul Zak - a scientist, who studies neuroeconomics, neuromarketing, who created a company with neuroscience as a service as its backbone - “TRUST FACTOR The science of creating high performance companies”.

And the book gave me a lot to think about when it comes to success in business and at work in relation to oxytocin.

Paul dedicated a lot of his research time to studying oxytocin and its effects on what people do, what moves us, what drives us.

Here are a few ideas you’ll find useful.

What oxytocin can do for you and how to make more of it.

1. OXYTOCIN BOOSTS PRODUCTIVITY

People are more committed to their work, to results, to helping each other thrive in an oxytocin-promoting environment.

2. OXYTOCIN BOOSTS CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION

When people feel safe (oxytocin promotes trust) - people express their ideas freely and they get MORE of those ideas because they aren't in a survival mode burdened by competition.

3. OXYTOCIN PREVENTS BURNOUT

Oxytocin and social connections lower stress, promote health biomarkers and make people more resilient in the face of challenges - we are in it together!

4. OXYTOCIN MAKES WORK FUN

When we are among coworkers/friends we have fun at work! We are looking forward to getting back to work and connecting with people we care about, people that care about us.

5. OXYTOCIN REDUCES SICK LEAVES

Oxytocin boosts health and longevity biomarkers - people get sick less. In fact, the longest-living people in Blue Zones have this in common - strong social bonds.

6. OXYTOCIN BOOSTS SALES

We buy from people we like. Oxytocin is released when we bond with people, when we start liking people.

7. OXYTOCIN REDUCES TURNOOVER

When work is fun and we work with friends/colleagues, we feel cared for and connected to the common cause - why would we ever leave?

8. OXYTOCIN REDUCES STRESS

Social bonding does this - it increases safety and reduces stress.

Loneliness kills.

9. OXYTOCIN INCREASES WORK SATISFACTION

And that makes us more productive, more hard-working, more creative, wanting to master our craft and do even better!

Imagine a workplace where everyone had this! (HINT: we can create it)

10. OXYTOCIN BOOSTS MORALE AND RESILIENCE

When we are in it together - we are stronger and we never give up. Navy seals know this - that's why they focus on building teams VS individual heroes.

OXYTOCIN.

Pretty remarkable hormone to boost in the workplace!

And how do you get more of it in business and in the workplace?

Just care.

Express human feelings, show empathy for other people’s situation, ask how you can help, check in with people - how they feel, what they struggle with, acknowledge great work, allow mistakes and help people to get better, create opportunities for people to connect and interact, celebrate professional and personal milestones.