David J. Glew’s research delves into the intricate correlation between personal values and performance at both individual and team levels. The study encompassed two cohorts: 107 undergraduate teams and an additional 54 MBA teams. Its primary objective was to discern the impact of personal values on team dynamics and overall outcomes.

The study uncovered a counterintuitive finding at the individual level: valuing a sense of accomplishment was negatively associated with peer-evaluated performance within teams. The study revealed that past individual performance outside of the team context demonstrated a stronger positive relationship with performance within teams, indicating that past experiences and achievements may better prepare individuals for effective teamwork, irrespective of their values.

At the team level, the study highlighted the crucial role of the value of equality. Teams where members collectively valued equality demonstrated improved performance. The study also found that the emphasis on equality was a more significant predictor of team success than the aggregate prior performance of team members, emphasizing the importance of shared values in achieving team goals.

These findings have implications for both organizational behavior and team management. They also open up exciting avenues for future research. Investigating other values that might impact team performance and how these interact with team composition and context could offer further insights into optimizing team effectiveness.

Glew’s study contributes to a better understanding of the role of personal values in team settings, offering valuable guidelines for enhancing team performance through value alignment.

Reference:

Glew, D. J. (2024). Personal values and performance in teams: An individual and team-level analysis. *Journal of Team Dynamics*, 15(3), 45-67.