Driving Success: The Behavior Equation for High Performing Teams

What if you could predict and shape your team's success with a simple equation? In my latest video, I dive into this concept, revealing how your leadership decisions impact team dynamics, performance, and your own personal growth.

Understanding Lewin's Behavior Equation

Psychologist Kurt Lewin developed the Behavior Equation, which is B = f(P, E)—simplified as B = P + E. This equation highlights that behavior is shaped by both personal characteristics (P) and the surrounding environment (E). It’s a game-changer for leaders looking to understand how to influence, lead effectively, and build high-performing teams.

Personal Experience: College Days

When I first went to college, I quickly made friends who were more interested in video games, rugby, drinking, and chasing girls than studying. Fun? Absolutely. Productive? Not so much. My chosen environment wasn't conducive to academic success, and I ended up with poor grades and little progress. This was a direct result of the environment and the people I surrounded myself with.

A Transformative Change: Joining the Air Force

Realizing I needed a change, I joined the US Air Force, seeking a more disciplined and structured environment. Playing with the US Combined Services Rugby team, surrounded by disciplined, driven individuals from top military academies, profoundly influenced my behavior and expectations. This environment demanded high standards and shaped me into a better leader and person.

Leadership Lessons from Lewin's Equation

1. Creating the Right Environment: As a leader, you have significant control over your team's behavior and performance by shaping the environment and selecting the right people. High expectations and hiring individuals with the right character and work ethic will lead to a successful team. Conversely, allowing behaviors that don’t align with your standards can quickly undermine your team's dynamics.

2. Seeking Positive Influences: To grow as a leader, it's crucial to seek out environments and people who exhibit the behaviors and results you aspire to achieve. Whether at work, in hobbies, or in clubs, these influences will positively impact your behavior and performance.

Conclusion

Kurt Lewin's Behavior Equation, B = P + E, teaches us that behavior is influenced by both personal characteristics and the environment. As a leader, you can shape your team's success by carefully crafting the environment and surrounding yourself with the right people. While this might seem obvious, it's common for leaders to overlook the importance and relationship between these variables. At the end of the day, if you're not seeing the behaviors and performance you want from your team, take a step back and ask yourself what changes in the people or the environment are needed and what you can do to make those changes happen.

If this resonated with you, let me know—drop a comment and share your experiences. Leadership isn’t just about managing people; it’s about creating the right environment for BIG growth, BIG impact, and BIG success. And that starts with the right people and the right mindset.