Did you know your brain might be syncing with the brains around you? And this might be a key to leadership success. Recent research shows that teams who bond have aligned neural activity and stronger communication, which creates a synergy that boosts overall performance. Let’s dive into the details of this study and see how these findings can help foster better teamwork in any organisation.

Researchers ran an experiment with groups of three (triads), giving some a bonding session and others not. Those in the bonding sessions were grouped by colour preferences, given uniforms and had introductory chats to build familiarity and camaraderie. The results were fascinating: the bonded groups communicated more fluidly and rapidly, talking more freely and bouncing between speakers more dynamically than the non-bonded groups.

Interestingly, the bonding effect was stronger between leaders and followers than between two followers. This suggests that as a leader, if you bond with your team members, you can create a more cohesive and communicative environment. The science behind this lies in the brain’s activity. Two specific brain regions, the rDLPFC and the rTPJ, showed aligned neural activity between bonded leaders and followers. This neural synchronisation means you’re more attuned to your followers’ mental states during group decision-making.

But, let’s keep this in context. The study involved East Asian Chinese individuals communicating via text, without non-verbal cues, in a cultural setting that values group cohesion and loyalty to leaders. While these cultural nuances are important, the main idea of fostering bonds to improve team performance is universally relevant.

So, what does this mean for you as a leader or team member? Prioritising team bonding activities could be the key to better communication and stronger collaboration. Whether it’s through team-building exercises, social gatherings, or just creating more opportunities for informal interactions, investing in team bonds can lead to synchronised thinking and a more harmonious workflow.

As someone interested in positive psychology, it’s crucial to turn robust research into actionable insights. By understanding and applying the principles of neural alignment and social bonding, you can create a thriving, high-performing team environment. After all, a team that thinks together, succeeds together.

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This article summary was created by Eleanor Shakiba

Eleanor is a leadership trainer, success coach and people skills expert. She helps managers and business owners build thriving teams and organisations, using tools from Positive Psychology. She's trained more than 60,000 people during her career as a corporate trainer and professional development consultant. Her mission is inspiring talented people to become leaders who make a difference.