Prosocial Skills

Adam Grant’s book, Hidden Potential, takes a deep dive into the science behind high achievement. I really liked this excerpt on prosocial skills and team dynamics and leadership.

Prosocial skills are the glue that transforms groups into teams. Instead of operating as lone wolves, people become part of a cohesive pack. We normally think about cohesion in terms of interpersonal connection, but team building and bonding exercises are overrated. Yes, icebreakers and ropes courses can breed camaraderie, but meta-analyses suggest that they don’t necessarily improve team performance. What really makes a difference is whether people recognize that they need one another to succeed on an important mission. That’s what enables them to bond around a common identity and stick together to achieve their collective goals…

Leaders play an important role in establishing cohesion. They have the authority to turn independent individuals into an interdependent team. But all too often, when it comes time to decide who takes the helm, we fall to consider the glue factor.

When we select leaders, we don’t usually pick the person with the strongest leadership skills. We frequently choose the person who talks the most. It’s called the babble effect. Research shows that groups promote the people who command the most airtime - regardless of their aptitude and expertise. We mistake confidence for competence, certainty for credibility, and quantity for quality. We get stuck following people who dominate the discussion instead of those who elevate it.

Do you see elements of this in your team?

Can you find ways to make sure your players recognize they need each other?

How do you develop your teams prosocial skills?

Are your leaders really those who are most qualified to lead? Or are they the loudest?

Grant’s book gives you a lot of great things to think about when you are trying to build your team.