When it comes to team assembly, people who are both trustworthy and competent are the most sought after. However, those who are friendly and trustworthy are more likely to be selected than those who are known for just their skill competence and personal reputation, according to a new research from Binghamton University.
"We assume that people are selected due to their knowledge, skills and abilities. However, this research suggests that people may often get picked because team members feel comfortable with them, " said Cynthia Maupin, assistant professor in Binghamton University's School of Management. "People may be willing to sacrifice a bit in terms of performance in order to have a really positive team experience. "
Maupin and her colleagues focused on a group of MBA students to conduct their study. Students were randomly assigned to different teams to carry out class projects. Toward the end of the semester, they were asked to form their own teams and evaluate why they selected each member.
"To find out how the students signaled to others that they might be someone who would be good to team up with in the future, we studied their use of either challenging or supportive voice, " Maupin said.
● Challenging voice: Communicating in a way that challenges the present situation and is focused on new ideas and efficiency.
● Supportive voice: Communicating in a way that strengthens social ties and trust.
The researchers found that students who exhibited both voices were the most in-demand people when it came to assembling teams. However, students who only used supportive voice to exhibit their friendliness and trustworthiness were more sought after than those who only signaled their competence through the use of challenging voice.
Maupin said the findings have major implications for the workplace. "People should realize the way they speak up can have a strong effect on informal teaming up at a later point and that supportive voice helps establish harmonious relationships and a sense of trust amongst individuals."
