People Energy Principle #5 – Human nature isn’t what we wish it were.
We often fall into a trap:
- First, believing we can mold people into exactly who we want them to be.
- Then, imagining we can engineer perfect, utopian conditions where everyone behaves just right—if only we could manipulate them enough.
That’s nuts. That’s not how human nature works.
Reality Check on Human Nature
Humans have free will. We have our own goals, values, and life purposes. We each bring unique superpowers to the table—and also quirks, biases, and stubborn streaks. And let’s be honest: we’re groupish. We form tribes, build alliances, and often default to “us versus them” behavior, even inside organizations.
Pretending this isn’t true creates brittle systems—policies that assume compliance instead of motivation, leaders who expect perfect alignment instead of healthy conflict, and strategies that break the moment reality intrudes.
The Leadership Opportunity
Instead of wishing for a perfect workforce or trying to control people into submission, design systems that work with human nature:
- Expect people to have different motivations and plan for it.
- Recognize tribal tendencies and aim them toward shared purpose, not turf wars.
- Align roles and incentives with people’s unique superpowers instead of forcing everyone into the same mold.
The Provocation
What if leadership wasn’t about fixing people, but about building systems that honor their humanity? That shift turns friction into energy—and idealism into results.
Your Move
This week, spot one place where you’re frustrated by “people being people.” Ask: What can you change in the system so their free will and group energy work for you, not against you?