TechHR
ex
L&D
UNPLUGGED
Sphere
About Us • Contact Us
People Matters ANZ
People Matters Logo
Login / Signup
People Matters Logo
Login / Signup
  • Current
  • Top Stories
  • News
  • Magazine
  • Research
  • Events
  • Videos
  • Webinars
  • Podcast

© Copyright People Matters Media Pte. Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

 

 

  • HotTopic
    HR Folk Talk FutureProofHR
  • Strategy
    Leadership Csuite StrategicHR EmployeeRelations BigInterview
  • Recruitment
    Employer Branding Appointments Permanent Hiring Recruitment
  • Performance
    Skilling PerformanceMgmt Compensation Benefits L&D Employee Engagement
  • Culture
    Culture Life@Work Diversity Watercooler SheMatters
  • Tech
    Technology HR Technology Funding & Investment Startups Metaverse
  • About Us
  • Advertise with us
  • Become a sponsor
  • Contact Us
  • Feedback
  • Write For Us

Follow us:

Privacy Policy • Terms of Use

© Copyright People Matters Media Pte. Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

People Matters Logo
  • Current
  • Top Stories
  • News
  • Magazine
  • Research
  • Events
  • Videos
  • Webinars
  • Podcast
Login / Signup

Categories:

  • HotTopic
    HR Folk Talk FutureProofHR
  • Strategy
    Leadership Csuite StrategicHR EmployeeRelations BigInterview
  • Recruitment
    Employer Branding Appointments Permanent Hiring Recruitment
  • Performance
    Skilling PerformanceMgmt Compensation Benefits L&D Employee Engagement
  • Culture
    Culture Life@Work Diversity Watercooler SheMatters
  • Tech
    Technology HR Technology Funding & Investment Startups Metaverse
Move over, rock stars! Here's what people look for in teams

Story • 6th Jul 2023 • 2 Min Read

Move over, rock stars! Here's what people look for in teams

LeadershipPerformance ManagementCulture

Author: People Matters Editorial Team People Matters Editorial Team
16K Reads
Attitude is crucial to a winning team. Here's how to win over your colleagues.

Would you rather work with a highly competent colleague with poor people skills – or a friendly one who still needs guidance at every turn?

Forget self-centred rock stars. When it comes to handpicking teammates at work, people tend to value colleagues with great social skills more than they would peers with high technical aptitude.

Trustworthiness and reliability trump competence in team member selection, according to a study from Binghamton University in New York.

Being part of a "star team" is thus different from working with a "team of stars". While the ideal scenario is to collaborate with members who have a combination of knowledge, expertise, technical skills and a winning attitude towards their peers, experts say that in most cases employees are much more open to working with colleagues who have a can-do attitude – no matter if these co-workers aren't necessarily star performers on their own.

"We assume that people are selected for important task forces and teams because of the knowledge, skills and abilities they bring to the table. However, this research suggests that people may often get picked because team members feel comfortable with them," said Cynthia Maupin, assistant professor of organisational behaviour and leadership at the university and one of the researchers.

"People may be willing to sacrifice a bit in terms of performance in order to have a really positive team experience."

The study enlisted MBA students who were instructed to assemble their own teams and explain their choices for members. The aim was to determine how members were selected based on their human capital (competency) and social capital (friendliness and trustworthiness). These were measured in terms of their use of a:

• Challenging voice – which welcomes disruption and change

• Supportive voice – which prioritises social cohesion, camaraderie and trust

The most sought-after team members exhibited a balance of their challenging voice and supportive voice. However, people whose strength lied solely in using their supportive voice were more likely to be selected than peers who relied more on their challenging voice.

Faced with pressure at work, teams are inclined to select members who won't ruffle feathers and cause interpersonal issues.

"When people feel like they can trust you, even if you're not necessarily the best worker, they're going to be more likely to want to work with you," Maupin explained.

The key takeaway for anyone looking to earn people's trust is to connect with them on a personal level. That is, to use their supportive voice to win over colleagues, the study found.

Read More

Did you find this article helpful?


You Might Also Like

Did Microsoft's leadership let Skype crumble?

STORY • 6th May 2025 • 3 Min Read

Did Microsoft's leadership let Skype crumble?

LeadershipTechnologyBusiness#HRTech#HRCommunity
The trust factor: What leaders should know

STORY • 29th Apr 2025 • 5 Min Read

The trust factor: What leaders should know

LeadershipExecutive EducationTalent Management
Leading the way to a sustainable tomorrow

STORY • 22nd Apr 2025 • 3 Min Read

Leading the way to a sustainable tomorrow

Leadership#ESG#WorldEarthDay
NEXT STORY: How HR and Learning & Development can collaborate for innovation

Trending Stories

  • design-thinking-hr

    Skype is dead: Did Microsoft's leadership let a billion-doll...

  • design-thinking-hr

    Keeping the C-suite in the C-suite - how do we reduce execut...

  • design-thinking-hr

    Return to office: the legalities

  • design-thinking-hr

    The trust factor: Why modern leaders can’t afford to overl...

People Matters Logo

Follow us:

Join our mailing list:

By clicking “Subscribe” button above, you are accepting our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.

Company:

  • About Us
  • Advertise with us
  • Become a sponsor
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

Contact:

  • Contact Us
  • Feedback
  • Write For Us

© Copyright People Matters Media Pte. Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

Get the latest Articles, Insight, News & Trends from the world of Talent & Work. Subscribe now!
People Matters Logo

Welcome Back!

or

Enter your registered email address to login

Not a user yet? Lets get you signed up!

A 5 digit OTP has been sent to your email address.

This is so we know it's you. Haven't received it yet? Resend the email or then change your email ID.

People Matters Logo

Welcome! Let's get you signed up...

Starting with the absolulte basics.

Already a user? Go ahead and login!

A 5 digit OTP has been sent to your email address.

This is so we know it's you. Haven't received it yet? Resend the email or then change your email ID.

Let's get to know you better

We'll never share your details with anyone, pinky swear.

And lastly...

Your official designation and company name.