We demonstrate that dynamical polarization switching in mutually coupled vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) has a profound impact on the chaotic dynamics in the system drastically improving the in-phase (anti-phase) synchronization between the modes of the two VCSELs with the same (orthogonal) polarizations. Furthermore, an exchange of the leader–laggard role is observed with the higher (lower) frequency VCSEL being the leader for lower (higher) coupling strength.