Humans' self-interested instinct to do whatever we can to survive and flourish often becomes apparent as individuals work to get ahead in their careers, sometimes even at the expense of others. However, while Charles Darwin's theory of evolution and "survival of the fittest," supports this approach at work, in "The Descent of Man," he wrote that communities most likely to thrive were "those with the most sympathetic members," meaning communities comprised of individuals who care for and promote the success and well-being of other members are most likely to succeed as a whole.
According to The Guardian, the selfish side of humanity is strengthened as we adopt systems and behaviors that undermine humans' natural cooperative predispositions, beginning in schools where a focus on exams and rankings instills the perception in adolescents that success is defined as doing better than others. This attitude is prevalent among individuals throughout different industries.
According to Adam Grant, PhD, professor of management at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School, "givers" — or those who help others without seeking or expecting anything from them in return — are more successful in the long run than "takers" — who seek to maximize opportunities to benefit themselves instead of others.
A strong presence of interconnectedness, collaboration and compassion is a strong predictor of success for organizations, as compared to those that foster unhealthy competition among employees. According to a recent paper from the University of Warwick, when people feel happier and more connected, they are more productive at work, and even act in more environmentally sustainable ways, The Guardian reports.
Additionally, solving major and complex challenges is only possible through the collaboration and participation both within and between organizations. In contrast, in workplace environments where employees compete with one another for performance-related rewards, they have a greater tendency to act out of self-interest, which makes it harder to overcome challenges that call for widespread cooperation.