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I Hate to Disappoint
Individuals who are highly prone to feel guilty for disappointing their co-workers are among the most ethical and hard-working team personnel. Technology Briefing
Transcript
Some people hate to disappoint others - and you should definitely get those people on your team. It turns out individuals who are highly prone to feel guilty for disappointing their co-workers are among the most ethical and hard-working team personnel.
However, new research suggests that these highly guilt-prone people may also be the most reticent to enter into new commitments.In a study published recently in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology Research, scholars at USC and Carnegie Mellon University explained how guilt proneness may prevent people from forming partnerships.
Understanding this phenomenon can enable managers to make better decisions about team building and increased productivity.
In five studies, the researchers demonstrated that highly guilt-prone people may avoid forming interdependent partnerships with people they perceive to be more competent than themselves, because benefiting a partner less than the partner benefits them could trigger feelings of guilt.
In the studies, highly guilt-prone people were also more likely than others to opt to be paid on their performance alone, and to opt to be paid based on the average of their performance and that of others whose competence was more similar to their own.
The researchers also found that guilt-prone people are highly conscientious. They are less likely to free-ride on others' expertise, and they will sacrifice financial gain out of concern about how their actions would influence others' welfare.
Those in supervisory roles can use this research to create the most effective dynamics in the workplace and to increase productivity.
The bottom line? Managers should ensure that these highly guilt-prone people are committing to partnerships and even assuming leadership roles on teams despite their fear that by accepting these leadership positions they might be putting themselves into a position to let their teammates down.
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