The Hidden Impact of 'Traitors' in Your Team: Leadership Lessons from Reality TV

In today's fast-paced business environment, team dynamics can make or break an organisation's success. Drawing fascinating parallels from the popular reality show 'The Traitors', we explore how trust, loyalty, and team behaviour impact business performance.

I find human behaviour fascinating.

What interests me - l read the other day about The Traitors show - is the fake bits are not what you might expect!

The breakfast is all staged - the contestants don’t even stay in the Castle.? They bus them in from a local hotel!

What is real is all that scheming. In a genre notorious for TV fakery, it is reassuring to know that the Machiavellian skullduggery and dishonesty involved in the series is in front of, rather than behind, the cameras.?

What does this tell us about human behaviour and team dynamics?

The Reality of Team Dynamics

In most organisations, you'll find two types of team members:

- The Faithfuls: Dedicated professionals committed to collective success and collaborative growth.

- The Disruptors (or 'Traitors'): Those whose actions, intentionally or not, undermine team cohesion.

It takes just one disruptive influence to destabilise team trust and dynamics. What I've seen that is particularly concerning is how leaders sometimes overlook problematic behaviour when short-term performance metrics are met. However, prioritising revenue over addressing unacceptable behaviour is unsustainable and ultimately damages team culture/your business!

Trust: The Foundation of High-Performing Teams

Have you ever wondered who the 'traitors' are in your business? While the term might seem extreme, it highlights a crucial aspect of team dynamics – trust. Just as contestants on 'The Traitors' struggle with open communication when uncertainty exists, your team's effectiveness can be compromised when trust is broken or taken to uncommonly high levels.

“It’s hard to have open conversations when you don’t know if you are talking to a traitor"

Environmental Impact on Behaviour

We adopt certain behavioural patterns depending on our environment not just our personality. ? Don’t underestimate the power of the environment.? When l say environment l mean it in the broadest sense it could be putting on a cloak to resume a role or creating circumstances that tap into our survival brains.

Just as 'The Traitors' demonstrates how environment shapes behaviour, your workplace culture significantly influences team performance. Professional behaviour isn't solely determined by personality – context matters enormously. This understanding offers three crucial insights:

1. Environmental influence is powerful and can be strategically shaped

2. The line between perception and reality often blurs in high-pressure situations

3. Small behavioural cues lead to assumptions* which can have significant implications for team trust

*ln the tense Round table discussions you’ll observe people picking on the tiniest things or behaviours and making assumptions, from which vital (life-changing) decisions are made often with dire consequences.

Who would want to lose a faithful loyal team member and keep a traitor that might stab you in the back?!

Whilst exaggerated in this game show environment - the underlying human behaviour is prevalent in groups everyday.

Leadership Challenges: Making the Right Calls

Who would knowingly retain a team member who might undermine others while losing loyal, productive colleagues? Yet, this happens more often than we'd like to admit. Sometimes, we misinterpret different working styles as problematic behaviour, or worse, miss genuine warning signs of destructive conduct.

Critical Questions for Leaders:

- What assumptions do you make about team members' behaviour?

- How actively do you work to create a positive team environment?

- What measures do you take to retain your most valuable team members?

My 'NOW' Method for checking team performance

When addressing team challenges, consider this simple method - I call the NOW approach:

Needs: Ensure team members have adequate resources, training, and support

Okay: Check for personal or professional challenges affecting performance

Will: Assess motivation levels while considering wellbeing and environmental factors

Taking Action

If you're reading this and recognising serious trust issues within your team, immediate action is crucial.

For forward-thinking leaders committed to team excellence, the opportunity lies in:

- Building uncommon levels of trust and collaboration

- Unlocking your team's full potential

- Creating sustainable competitive advantages through people development

Remember, in the real business world, performance issues don't always stem from malicious intent. Sometimes, they arise from skill gaps, resource constraints, or personal challenges. The key is identifying root causes and addressing them systematically.

Investing in Your Team's Future

Success in team development comes from backing your 'faithfuls' – those committed team members who drive sustainable growth. By creating an environment of trust, providing necessary resources, and addressing challenges promptly, you build a foundation for lasting success.

Are you ready to transform your team dynamics and unlock their full potential? Let's connect and explore how we can create win-win opportunities that drive revenue while retaining your best talent.

James Gentle ????????

Alt P - Training & Transformation

www.altp.co.uk

P.S. We've some worldclass assessments and powerful experential workshops to build your teams. We are just a click away, get things moving today - the sooner you develop your people the sonner you'll reap the performance benefits.

Contact us today. https://altp.co.uk/contact-us/