LAW ITHE FIRST LAW
BELONGING
BELONGING
Humans Are Wired for Belonging.
People need to feel accepted, known, and secure in their standing within a group.
AN ENGINEERING APPROACH TO HUMAN SYSTEMS
First Principles of HR
The Four Laws of Human Nature at Work
Human nature is the operating system. Most leaders never read the spec.
Engineering rigor for human systems, written by a leader who asks "how can I be helpful," not "what can you do for me."
ON AMAZONNOV 10, 2026
Pre-order on KindleKindle pre-order and paperback. Available November 10, 2026.
02THE FOUR LAWS
FIG. 1.0 THE HUMAN OPERATING SYSTEM
Laws, as in the kind you don't get to vote on.
LAW IITHE SECOND LAW
SELF-PROTECTION
SELF-PROTECTION
Humans Default to Self-Protection.
Before people commit honest effort or honest opinions, they first ask, consciously or not, whether it's safe to do so.
LAW IIITHE THIRD LAW
MOTIVATION
MOTIVATION
Human Motivation Is Individual and Layered.
No single compensation plan, recognition ritual, or leadership style motivates everyone equally.
LAW IVTHE FOURTH LAW
SURVIVAL
SURVIVAL
Survival Instincts Override Everything.
Under perceived threat, the rational brain gets overridden by the survival brain, which speaks safety, not logic.
03PRAISE
"The actionable insights in this book reinforce what I've long known about Kevin Dooley: he is a world-class HR practitioner who seamlessly connects deep behavioral science with battle-tested leadership mastery."
"Kevin Dooley has written a unique and deeply insightful book... This is a must read for those wanting to understand what it really takes to drive individual and organizational change..."
"At last, a beautifully-written book which speaks truth not to power but to corporate ignorance... Putting Kevin's deep insights and practical tips into practice will save you a lot of money and headaches."
04WHO IT'S FOR
For anyone responsible for how people work together.
- CHROs and HR leaders who want a framework that explains what the data can't.
- Executives leading a reorg, a restructuring or a culture reset.
- Managers who want their best people to stay, speak up and do their best work.
05ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kevin Dooley
Kevin Dooley is the founder of KMD Services and the former CHRO of IQVIA Labs, who built his HR career at Deutsche Bank, Colgate-Palmolive and PepsiCo. His work rests on a foundation in industrial-organizational psychology; he is SHRM-SCP certified and serves on advisory boards at Hofstra and Brandeis. He leads with a simple philosophy: how can I be helpful, not what can you do for me.
06BOOK KEVIN · BULK ORDERS
Bring the Four Laws to your leadership team as a keynote or workshop, with signed copies for every attendee. Book a 30-minute call or email KevinDooley@kmdservice.com.
07ORDER THE BOOK
Get your copy of First Principles of HR
ON AMAZONNOV 10, 2026
Pre-order on KindleKindle pre-order and paperback. Available November 10, 2026.