The Distinct Roles of First Impressions and Physiological Compliance in Establishing Effective Teamwork

Objective measures of team dynamics would be valuable complementary tools for researchers and practitioners to use along with subjective measures when deciding which individuals work together most effectively as a team, or when designing training or task environments to promote more effective teams and teamwork. Consistent with control theory, the present study investigates how first impressions and physiological compliance early during team formation impact team effectiveness outcomes including: team satisfaction, work-related flow experiences, team processes, and performance outcomes. In a theory-driven attempt to objectively measure the extent of mutual control during teamwork, physiological compliance was calculated as root-mean squared (RMS) error of instantaneous ventilatory drive between participants; lower RMS error indicated higher physiological compliance. Ad hoc two-person teams (N=55) participated in a simulated business and marketing decision-making task while their breathing was monitored continuously. Results from Actor-Partner Interdependence Model (APIM) and mixed-model analyses indicated that first impressions and physiological compliance early during team formation both influenced team effectiveness outcomes: first impressions were predictive of team satisfaction, shared work-related flow experiences and interpersonal processes, while physiological compliance was predictive of performance satisfaction and objective task performance. Overall, results provided initial validation of an objective measure of physiological compliance and show how team dynamics early in team formation can impact overall team effectiveness. Observed relationships suggest that subjective indicators of team formation may only provide a partial view of team dynamics while the addition of an objective indicator of mutual control affords a more comprehensive and in-depth examination