Power In Teams: Structures and Dynamics

Power, or the control of valued resources, can change individual cognitions, behaviours, and affect. However, the effects of power in social settings, such as teams, have only recently begun to garner scholarly attention. In this talk, this new and growing line of work on power in teams will be reviewed. I will briefly discuss past research I have conducted on the effects of different team power structures (team power dispersion, team power-level, and variety in type of team-power bases) on team conflict and performance. I will then discuss in depth my recent research on the dynamics of power in teams, including the antecedents and consequences of team power struggles.