Dysfunction and Power

In sum, in our conflict account of power in teams, we propose that the benefits that power has been shown to offer individuals may paradoxically lead power to, at times, corrupt social interactions in teams. This is because the benefits that power introduces for individuals may become a point of resentment and contention within a team. When at least one single high-power member in a team is present, this increases the sensitivity around power in the team, making all team members excessively responsive to resource allocations. This in turn, makes members likely to compete for power when they feel that their resources within the team are threatened, thereby spiraling team outcome-detracting power struggles. We hope with this account to fully explain why and when power can negatively impact teams. By understanding the mechanisms and levers by which power can harm teams, we can seek to remove the deleterious effects of power for team outcomes.