Team member personality significantly affects team functioning and performance (e.g. Driskell, Hogan & Salas 1987; Hackman 1987). Personality factors of team members are 'characteristic patterns of thinking, feeling, and acting that should affect team performance through a variety of processes ranging from how team members approach task completion to how team members interact with one another' (Bell 2007, p. 597). You will remember that we encountered the Big Five personality traits in an earlier unit. These personality traits are related to team performance:Conscientiousness: Conscientious individuals are described as hardworking, achievement-oriented, and persevering and they contribute to team performance because they focus on goal completion and problem solving (Bell 2007).
- Agreeableness: Agreeable individuals (e.g. considerate, trusting, and friendly) seek to maintain social harmony and reduced within-group competition (Graziano, Hair & Finch 1997).
- Extraversion: This factor is beneficial when the job requires significant interpersonal interaction (Organ & Ryan 1995). Additionally,extroverts have been found to be more open to seeking help from other members when needed (Porter et al. 2003).
- Openness to experience: Individuals who are 'original, imaginative, broadminded and daring are well-suited for teamwork situations when the situation is novel or complex (Griffith & Hesketh 2004). Openness to experience is also beneficial when the team works in a fast-changing, dynamic environment (LePine 2003).