Criticism. Stonewalling. Defensive behavior. Contempt.
According to John Gottman, these are the four horsemen that predict which marriage is likely to fail. Clearly, this is relevant for leaders as well. Great team chemistry should be like a great marriage – lots of love and communication flowing within.
Now which of these four horsemen do you have in your team?:
Do you criticize your teammate’s work and complain about them behind their back?
Do all the members of the group share their ideas?
Does anyone get defensive when their work isn’t up to the level required?
Does anyone feel that they know best in the team?
If you’re a leader, these are the four horsemen that you need to watch out for in your team. They are clear signs that the team chemistry is low and that you need to fix something.
How? By getting your team’s safety levels back up. By eating together as a team. By sharing praise in public. By allowing each person to have their own opinions without being attacked. By giving out high-fives. By ensuring that everyone feels heard with their ideas.
Keep the four horsemen at bay and your team will gel beautifully. Or don’t, and watch your team implode. It’s all up to you. You’re the leader remember?
A New Source Code 