Preparing the Self for Team Entry: How Relational Affirmation Improves Team Performance

摘要: Working in teams often leads to productivity loss because the need feel accepted prevents individual members from making a unique contribution team terms of information or perspective they can offer. Drawing on self-affirmation theory, we propose that pre-team relational prepare individuals contribute creative performance more effectively. We theorize relationally-affirming one’s self-views increases general feelings being socially valued by others, leading better exchange and performance. In first study, found which affirmed their best selves prior formation (i.e., soliciting receiving narratives highlight positive impact close others) outperformed did not do so problem-solving task. second experiment, conducted using virtual teams, show heightened social worth, turn explains effect treatment team’s ability information.