Bouncing Back from Setbacks: On the Mediating Role of Team Resilience in the Relationship Between Transformational Leadership and Team Effectiveness

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to clarify the role of team resilience on different facets of effectiveness (team viability and quality of the group experience). Moreover, given the importance of team resilience for the organizational context, it was also our aim to contribute to the study of the conditions that promote team resilience, analyzing the role of transformational leadership. Finally, we examined whether the relationship between transformational leadership and team resilience stimulates positive team outcomes. Ninety teams (445 employees from 40 companies) were surveyed and path analysis was used in the test of the hypotheses. The results showed a positive direct effect of team resilience on both team viability and the quality of the group experience. Moreover, a positive relationship was also identified between transformational leadership and team resilience. Finally, support was found for the mediated effect of team resilience on the relationship between transformational leadership and the dimensions of team effectiveness considered. The findings of this study highlight the role of team resilience as an intervening process between transformational leadership and team effectiveness. Supervisors should promote team resilience, adopting transformational leadership behaviors, in order to contribute to increase team viability and the quality of the group experience.

KEYWORDS:

• Team effectiveness
• team resilience
• transformational leadership

Author Notes

Isabel Dórdio Dimas is an assistant professor of Organizational Behavior and Social Sciences at the University of Aveiro and a researcher at GOVCOPP – Research Unit in Governance, Competitiveness and Public Policies. She is also a collaborator at the University of Coimbra. She earned her Ph.D. in Organizational Psychology and her degree in Psychology from the University of Coimbra. Her current research interests include team effectiveness, group dynamics, intragroup conflict, leadership, and emotions in the group.Teresa Rebelo, PhD in Work and Organizational Psychology, is an assistant professor in the Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, University of Coimbra. She began her career as a consultant and after 10 years in this activity she joined the university teaching career. She is a researcher member of the Institute of Cognitive Psychology, Human and Social Development (IPCDHS) and member of the teaching staff of the european Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree in Work, Organizational and Personnel Psychology. Her current research interests are focused on organizational culture, organizational and team learning, nonlinear dynamical system theory and team dynamics.Paulo Renato Louren¸o has a Ph.D in Organizational Psychology from University of Coimbra (Portugal). He is an Assistant Professor of Work, Organizational and Personnel Psychology (WOP-P) at the University of Coimbra and researcher at the Institute of Cognitive Psychology, Human and Social Development (IPCDHS). He is also member of the teaching staff of the european Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree in WOP-P. His research interests are in work teams functioning, including topics such as team trust, team cohesion, team effectiveness and leadership.Carina Pessoa is a psychologist, specialized in the area of human resources and organizations, by the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences of the University of Coimbra. Currently, works in recruitment and selection of engineering candidates. Her research interests are related to people management and attraction, leadership and its importance in the motivation and performance of employees.