Nice Teams Finish Last: An Investigation of Prosocial Orientations and Prohibitive Voice

Abstract

A large body of research has investigated the positive individual results of being prosocial. However, little is known about its consequences for the most prevalent work structure, teams, or its potential costs. We address these limitations in three studies. Study 1 demonstrates that team prosocial orientation is negatively related to team decision performance. Study 2 further reveals that the negative association is related to more prosocial individuals avoiding a necessary but interpersonally risky behavior, prohibitive voice. Study 3 explores a way to mitigate these costs and demonstrates that the negative relationship between prosocial orientation and prohibitive voice can be attenuated by leaders asking questions. Together, our findings advance a more holistic and balanced understanding of prosocial orientation’s consequences by demonstrating some of its potential costs and how to manage them.