Every team leader faces the challenge of creating a thriving team dynamic, where members are committed, support one another, and feel a strong sense of community. While individual characteristics such as knowledge of key subjects, competence in certain skills and intelligence are crucial to organisational success, those things don’t matter if members of the team are unable to cooperate. And let's face it, who doesn't want to be a part of a team where everyone's on the same page, working together towards a common goal, and bonding over office coffee breaks?
But what if we told you that all it takes to create a thriving team is to understand that we're 90 % chimp and 10 % bee? Yes, you read that right - bees and chimps. But before you call animal control, let us explain.
Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt believes the key to unlocking a thriving team dynamic is understanding that humans are 90 % chimp and 10 % bee. Humans have two modes of functioning: the chimp mode, which is focused on competition and self-interest, and the bee mode, which is prosocial and cooperative.
Evolutionarily speaking the chimp mode represents individual level natural selection, where selfishness is necessary for survival. The bee mode, on the other hand, is a result of group level selection, where groups that efficiently organised their activities were more likely to survive. This mode represents our innate tendencies towards prosocial and altruistic behavior.
Although the chimp is important to some degree, it is easy to see that when building a thriving team, we need to cultivate the bee.
But how do you do that?
According to Haidt, we all have a figurative button that, when pressed, turns on the bee mode and makes us more cooperative and loyal to our own groups. He calls it the "Hive Switch". And guess what? There are plenty of ways to turn it on. Some of them might not be suitable for a professional setting, like psychedelic drugs (let's save that for the weekend), but there are other ways to get the job done.
How to cultivate a culture of cooperation?
Exploiting synchrony involves moving in unison, whether it's through physical activities like exercise or by doing something together, such as singing. This creates a sense of bonding and strengthens the group's cohesion. For example the army is known to utilise this technique of muscular bonding (things such as marching and saluting in unison) and is undoubtedly one of the most studied communities in the area of group cohesion. So gather your team and hit the karaoke (that is what we do here at Laavu) or organise a company-wide sports event.
Healthy competition among teams, not individuals, can also increase positive in-group bias. Whereas rivalry over the same bonuses or raises will probably create division, friendly competitions between teams or corporate divisions can drive a sense of community and camaraderie. Not feeling like organizing a weekly pub-quiz? Maybe you can try rewarding the most productive sales rep at the end of the week with movie tickets?
Promoting collective commitment and self-sacrifice can be highly motivating and increase group cohesion. Doing something out of sheer will, without the expectation of a reward, signals to ourselves that the goal is important in itself. By modeling self-sacrifice and committing to a common goal, leaders can foster a culture of mutual support and interdependence. Obviously there are some caveats to this - acting like a martyr rarely accomplishes anything, nor does exploiting the good will of your employees for reduced labor expenses.
Cultivating awe can be an efficient way to turn on the Hive Switch. When we experience awe, it transports us beyond our everyday concerns and allows us to see the world from a wider perspective. We are reminded that we are a part of something greater than ourselves, and this newfound sense of connectedness can make us more compassionate and appreciative towards one another as well as life in itself.
In conclusion
In conclusion, by tapping into the Hive Switch, leaders can create a thriving team dynamic and foster a culture of cooperation, support, and interdependence. By exploiting synchrony, creating healthy competition, promoting collective commitment and self-sacrifice and cultivating awe, leaders can help their organizations gain more hive-mindedness and reach new heights of success.
