Exploring the social brain with Tracey Camilleri

Tracey Camilleri is the co-founder of the leadership and organisational development consultancy Thompson Harrison. In 2023, her book The Social Brain, co-authored with Samantha Rockey and Robin Dunbar was published to widespread acclaim.

In this episode we hear from Tracey as she shares what she’s learned about team dynamics and communicating within groups.

As organisations across the board become ever more digitally enabled, location-agnostic and asynchronous, Cat learns about how to embrace human connection and build community for enhanced organisational outcomes

Takeaways

• The leader's role is to create a thriving environment.
• Social interactions are essential for workplace efficiency.
• Small groups foster better relationships and performance.
• Communication is key to team coherence and success.
• Organisations need to prioritise social strategies.
• The health of small groups is crucial for innovation.
• Internal communicators are vital to organisational success.
• People's sense of belonging impacts their performance.
• Leadership should focus on relational aspects of work.
• Understanding team dynamics can enhance workplace culture.

Tracey Camilleri

Tracey Camilleri is the co-founder of Thompson Harrison, along with Sam Rockey and is an Associate Fellow at Oxford University’s Saïd Business School (OSBS). At OSBS, she has designed and directed the flagship Oxford Strategic Leadership Programme (2012-2022) as well as bespoke senior development programmes. She is known for her innovative design approach, her focus on the dynamics and practice of successful groups and what it means to lead healthy, thriving organisations in a world increasingly dominated by process and machines.

Earlier in her career she variously ran her own consulting company, WMC Communications, worked as an associate for the private investment bank, Allen and Company, as new business director for the publishing company, Marshall Cavendish, a teacher of English literature at St Paul’s Girls’ School, and as a research associate at Bain and Company. Her book, 'The Social Brain: The Psychology of Successful Groups’, written in partnership with Sam Rockey and evolutionary psychologist, Professor Robin Dunbar, was published by Penguin Random House in Spring 2023. Tracey has an MA from Oxford University.

Find Tracey on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracey-camilleri/

Tracey’s website: https://www.thompsonharrison.com/