This study examined the relationship between humility and team outcomes at team level through two lines of two mediated variables. On the first mechanism, we hypothesized how team humility posits positive effects towards team performance through team feedback seeking and team task allocation. On the second line, we hypothesized how team humility negatively influences the counterwork behaviors (CWBs) through group identification and team psychological capital (PsyCap). We hypothesized that the intensity of relationship of the mechanism will be affected under the condition of team authenticity. Our data was collected through survey in South East Asia. Our study contributes a gap to humility literature, where we connect the humility to team outcomes through two mechanisms at team level. Additionally, we claim that we are the first research that contends the mechanism between feedback seeking and group identification into the humility literature. Also, we investigate under how certain condition the intensity of the relationship between team humility and team outcomes can be reduced or increased. As well as having practical implication, this study offers theoretical insight for research into humility, employee’s competences and organizational performance.
Keywords: team humility, feedback seeking, group identification, task allocation, PsyCap, team authenticity, team counterwork behavior.

Abdel-Halim, A. A. (1981). A reexamination of ability as a moderator of role perceptions—satisfaction relationship. Personnel Psychology, 34(-lk3), 549-561.
Abrams, D., & Hogg, M. A. (1988). Comments on the motivational status of self‐esteem in social identity and intergroup discrimination. European journal of social psychology, 18(4), 317-334.
Allison, P. D. (1978). Measures of inequality. American sociological review, 43(6), 865-880.
Ang, S., Cummings, L. L., Straub, D. W., & Earley, P. C. (1993). The effects of information technology and the perceived mood of the feedback giver on feedback seeking. Information Systems Research, 4(3), 240-261.
Argandoña, A. (2015). Humility in management. Journal of Business Ethics, 132, 63–71.
Ashford, S. J. (1986). Feedback-seeking in individual adaptation: A resource perspective. Academy of Management Journal, 29(3), 465-487.
Ashford, S. J., Blatt, R., & VandeWalle, D. (2003). Reflections on the looking glass: A review of research on feedback-seeking behavior in organizations. Journal of Management, 29(6), 773-799.
Ashford, S. J., & Cummings, L. L. (1985). Proactive feedback seeking: The instrumental use of the information environment. Journal of occupational psychology, 58(1), 67-79.
Ashford, S. J., & Tsui, A. S. (1991). Self-regulation for managerial effectiveness: The role of active feedback seeking. Academy of Management Journal, 34(2), 251-280.
Ashforth, B. E., & Mael, F. (1989). Social identity theory and the organization. Academy of management review, 14(1), 20-39.
Ashmore, R. D., Deaux, K., & McLaughlin-Volpe, T. (2004). An organizing framework for collective identity: articulation and significance of multidimensionality. Psychological bulletin, 130(1), 80-114. doi:10.1037/0033-2909.130.1.80
Avey, J. B., Luthans, F., & Youssef, C. M. (2010). The additive value of positive psychological capital in predicting work attitudes and behaviors. Journal of Management, 36(2), 430-452.
Avey, J. B., Reichard, R. J., Luthans, F., & Mhatre, K. H. (2011). Meta‐analysis of the impact of positive psychological capital on employee attitudes, behaviors, and performance. Human resource development quarterly, 22(2), 127-152.
Baker, D. P., & Salas, E. (1992). Principles for measuring teamwork skills. Human factors, 34(4), 469-475.
Bandura, A., & Walters, R. H. (1977). Social learning theory (Vol. 1). United States of America: Prentice-hall Englewood Cliffs, NJ.
Banks, G. C., & Kepes, S. (2015). The influence of internal HRM activity fit on the dynamics within the “black box”. Human Resource Management Review, 25(4), 352-367.
Baron, Reuben M, Kenny, David A (1986). The moderator–mediator variable distinction in social psychological research: Conceptual, strategic, and statistical considerations. Journal of personality and social psychology. 51(6), 1173.
Bennett, R. J., & Robinson, S. L. (2000). Development of a measure of workplace deviance. Journal of Applied Psychology, 85(3), 349-360.
Berry, C. M., Ones, D. S., & Sackett, P. R. (2007). Interpersonal deviance, organizational deviance, and their common correlates: A review and meta-analysis. Journal of Applied Psychology, 92(2), 410.
Bobko, P., & Coella, A. (1994). Employee reactions to performance standards: A review and research propositions. Personnel Psychology, 47(1), 1-29.
Bogler, R., & Somech, A. (2019). Psychological capital, team resources and organizational citizenship behavior. The Journal of psychology, 153(8), 784-802.
Boxx, W. R., Odom, R. Y., & Dunn, M. G. (1991). Organizational values and value congruency and their impact on satisfaction, commitment, and cohesion: An empirical examination within the public sector. Public Personnel Management, 20(2), 195-205.
Brickman, P., & Bulman, R. J. (1977). Pleasure and pain in social comparison. Social comparison processes: Theoretical and empirical perspectives, 149, 186.
Brown, M. E. (1969). Identification and some conditions of organizational involvement. Administrative science quarterly, 346-355.
Brown, M. E., Treviño, L. K., & Harrison, D. A. (2005). Ethical leadership: A social learning perspective for construct development and testing. Organizational behavior and human decision processes, 97(2), 117-134.
Browne, M. W., & Cudeck, R. (1989). Single sample cross-validation indices for covariance structures. Multivariate behavioral research, 24(4), 445-455.
Butler, R. (1993). Effects of task-and ego-achievement goals on information seeking during task engagement. Journal of personality and social psychology, 65(1), 18.
Carson, J. B., Tesluk, P. E., & Marrone, J. A. (2007). Shared leadership in teams: An investigation of antecedent conditions and performance. Academy of Management Journal, 50(5), 1217-1234.
Clapp-Smith, R., Vogelgesang, G. R., & Avey, J. B. (2009). Authentic leadership and positive psychological capital: The mediating role of trust at the group level of analysis. Journal of Leadership & Organizational Studies, 15(3), 227-240.
Colquitt, J. A., Noe, R. A., & Jackson, C. L. (2002). Justice in teams: Antecedents and consequences of procedural justice climate. Personnel Psychology, 55(1), 83-109.
Crommelinck, M., & Anseel, F. (2013). Understanding and encouraging feedback‐seeking behaviour: a literature review. Medical education, 47(3), 232-241.
Cropanzano, R., & Mitchell, M. S. (2005). Social exchange theory: An interdisciplinary review. Journal of Management, 31(6), 874-900.
Chan, D. (1998). Functional relations among constructs in the same content domain at different levels of analysis: A typology of composition models. Journal of Applied Psychology, 83(2), 234-246.
Charbonneau, D., & Dornhaus, A. (2015). When doing nothing is something. How task allocation strategies compromise between flexibility, efficiency, and inactive agents. Journal of Bioeconomics, 17(3), 217-242.
Chattopadhyay, P., Tluchowska, M., & George, E. (2004). Identifying the ingroup: A closer look at the influence of demographic dissimilarity on employee social identity. Academy of management review, 29(2), 180-202.
Dawkins, S., Martin, A., Scott, J., & Sanderson, K. (2015). Advancing conceptualization and measurement of psychological capital as a collective construct. Human Relations, 68(6), 925-949.
Dawkins, S., Martin, A., Scott, J., Sanderson, K., & Schuz, B. (2018). A cross-level model of team-level psychological capital (PsyCap) and individual-and team-level outcomes. Journal of Management & Organization, 1-20.
Dickinson, T. L., & McIntyre, R. M. (1997). A conceptual framework for teamwork measurement. Team performance assessment and measurement, 19-43.
Dimotakis, N., Davison, R. B., & Hollenbeck, J. R. (2012). Team structure and regulatory focus: The impact of regulatory fit on team dynamic. Journal of Applied Psychology, 97(2), 421.
Dixson, N. (2000). Common Knowledge: How Company Thrive By Sharing What. Dvir, T., Kass, N. and Shamir, B.(2004). The emotional bond.
Duckworth, A. L., Peterson, C., Matthews, M. D., & Kelly, D. R. (2007). Grit: perseverance and passion for long-term goals. Journal of personality and social psychology, 92(6), 1087–1101.
Dutton, J. E., Dukerich, J. M., & Harquail, C. V. (1994a). Organizational images and member identification. Administrative science quarterly, 39( 2 ), 239-263.
Dutton, J. E., Dukerich, J. M., & Harquail, C. V. (1994b). Organizational images and member identification. Administrative science quarterly, 39, 239-263.
Eggers, F., O’Dwyer, M., Kraus, S., Vallaster, C., & Güldenberg, S. (2013). The impact of brand authenticity on brand trust and SME growth: A CEO perspective. Journal of World Business, 48(3), 340-348.
Ellemers, N., De Gilder, D., & Haslam, S. A. (2004). Motivating individuals and groups at work: A social identity perspective on leadership and group performance. Academy of management review, 29(3), 459-478.
Ellemers, N., Kortekaas, P., & Ouwerkerk, J. W. (1999). Self‐categorisation, commitment to the group and group self‐esteem as related but distinct aspects of social identity. European journal of social psychology, 29(2‐3), 371-389.
Emerson, R. M. (1976). Social exchange theory. Annual review of sociology, 2(1), 335-362.
Erez, M., & Earley, P. C. (1993). Culture, self-identity, and work: Oxford University Press on Demand.
Farr, J. L. (1993). Informal performance feedback: Seeking and giving. Personnel selection and assessment: Individual and organizational perspectives, 163, 180.
Fisher, R. J., & Wakefield, K. (1998). Factors leading to group identification: A field study of winners and losers. Psychology & Marketing, 15(1), 23-40.
Fox, S., & Spector, P. E. (1999). A model of work frustration–aggression. Journal of organizational Behavior, 20(6), 915-931.
Furnham, A., Hosoe, T., & Tang, T. L.-P. (2001). Male hubris and female humility? A crosscultural study of ratings of self, parental, and sibling multiple intelligence in America, Britain, and Japan. Intelligence, 30(1), 101-115.
Gilmore, J. H., & Pine, B. J. (2007). Authenticity: What consumers really want. United States of America: Harvard Business Press.
Gino, F., Kouchaki, M., & Galinsky, A. D. (2015). The moral virtue of authenticity: How inauthenticity produces feelings of immorality and impurity. Psychological science, 26(7), 983-996.
Gino, F., Norton, M. I., & Ariely, D. (2010). The counterfeit self: The deceptive costs of faking it. Psychological science, 21(5), 712-720.
Hackman, J. R., & Oldham, G. R. (1975). Development of the job diagnostic survey. Journal of Applied Psychology, 60(2), 159-170.
Hair, A. (1998). Tatham, and Black. Análisis multivariante.
Hannah, S. T., Walumbwa, F. O., & Fry, L. W. (2011). Leadeship in action teams: team leader and member's authenticity, authenticity strength, and team outcomes. Personnel Psychology, 64(3), 771-802.
Harrigan, N., Achananuparp, P., & Lim, E.-P. (2012). Influentials, novelty, and social contagion: The viral power of average friends, close communities, and old news. Social Networks, 34(4), 470-480.
Haslam, S. A., & Ellemers, N. (2005). Social identity in industrial and organizational psychology: Concepts, controversies and contributions. International review of industrial and organizational psychology, 20(1), 39-118.
Haslam, S. A., & Platow, M. J. (2001). The link between leadership and followership: How affirming social identity translates vision into action. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 27(11), 1469-1479.
Haslam, S. A., Powell, C., & Turner, J. (2000). Social identity, self‐categorization, and work motivation: rethinking the contribution of the group to positive and sustainable organisational outcomes. Applied Psychology, 49(3), 319-339.
Heled, E., Somech, A., & Waters, L. (2016). Psychological capital as a team phenomenon: Mediating the relationship between learning climate and outcomes at the individual and team levels. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 11(3), 303-314.
Hollenbeck, J. R., DeRue, D. S., & Guzzo, R. (2004). Bridging the gap between I/O research and HR practice: Improving team composition, team training, and team task design. Human Resource Management: Published in Cooperation with the School of Business Administration, The University of Michigan and in alliance with the Society of Human Resources Management, 43(4), 353-366.
Hooper, D., Coughlan, J., & Mullen, M. (2008). Evaluating model fit: a synthesis of the structural equation modelling literature. Paper presented at the 7th European Conference on research methodology for business and management studies.
Hoyle, R. H. (1995). Structural equation modeling: Concepts, issues, and applications. United States of America: Sage.
Ilgen, D. R., Fisher, C. D., & Taylor, M. S. (1979). Consequences of individual feedback on behavior in organizations. Journal of Applied Psychology, 64(4), 349-371.
Janis, I. L., & Mann, L. (1977). Decision making: A psychological analysis of conflict, choice, and commitment: Free press.
Jones, E. E., & Gerard, H. (1967). Dyadic interaction: a conceptual framework. Foun-dations of Social Psychology. John Wiley & Sons, New York, 505-536.
Kanfer, R. (1990). Motivation theory and industrial and organizational psychology. Handbook of industrial and organizational psychology, 1(2), 75-130.
Katz, D., & Kahn, R. L. (1978). The social psychology of organizations (Vol. 2). United States of America: Wiley New York.
Kelman, H. C. (1961). Processes of opinion change. Public opinion quarterly, 25(1), 57-78.
Kenkel, W. F., Thibaut, J., & Kelley, H. (1959). The social psychology of groups. The American Catholic Sociological Review, 20(4), 345.
Kernis, M. H., & Goldman, B. M. (2006). A multicomponent conceptualization of authenticity: Theory and research. Advances in experimental social psychology, 38, 283-357.
Kline, R. B. (2015). Principles and practice of structural equation modeling: Guilford publications.
Komori, M., Miura, A., Matsumura, N., Hiraishi, K., & Maeda, K. (2021). Spread of risk information through microblogs: Twitter users with more mutual connections relay news that is more dreadful. Japanese Psychological Research, 1–12(1), 1–12.
Kozlowski, S. W., & Klein, K. J. (2000). A multilevel approach to theory and research in organizations: Contextual, temporal, and emergent processes. In K. J. Klein & S. W. J. Kozlowski (Eds.), Multilevel theory, research, and methods in organizations: Foundations, extensions, and new directions, 3–90.
Kramer, R. M. (1991). Intergroup Relations and Organizational Dilemmas-The role of categorization processes. Research in organizational behavior, 13, 191-228.
Latham, G. P., Winters, D. C., & Locke, E. A. (1994). Cognitive and motivational effects of participation: A mediator study. Journal of organizational Behavior, 15(1), 49-63.
Lord, R. G., & Brown, D. J. (2001). Leadership, values, and subordinate self-concepts. The Leadership Quarterly, 12(2), 133-152.
Lord, R. G., & Brown, D. J. (2003). Leadership processes and follower self-identity. United States of America: Psychology Press.
Luthans, F., Avolio, B. J., Avey, J. B., & Norman, S. M. (2007). Positive psychological capital: Measurement and relationship with performance and satisfaction. Personnel Psychology, 60(3), 541-572.
Luthans, F., Norman, S. M., Avolio, B. J., & Avey, J. B. (2008). The mediating role of psychological capital in the supportive organizational climate—employee performance relationship. Journal of Organizational Behavior: The International Journal of Industrial, Occupational and Organizational Psychology and Behavior, 29(2), 219-238.
Luthans, F., & Youssef, C. M. (2007). Emerging positive organizational behavior. Journal of Management, 33(3), 321-349.
Luthans, F., Youssef, C. M., & Avolio, B. J. (2007). Psychological capital: Developing the human competitive edge. United States of America: Oxford University Press, Inc.
Luthans, F., Youssef, C. M., & Avolio, B. J. (2015). Psychological capital and beyond. United States of America: Oxford University Press, USA.
MacKinnon, David P, Lockwood, Chondra M., Hoffman, Jeanne M.,& West, Stephen G. (2002). A comparison of methods to test mediation and other intervening variable effects. Psychological methods,7(1), 83.
Sheets, VirgilMael, F., & Ashforth, B. E. (1992). Alumni and their alma mater: A partial test of the reformulated model of organizational identification. Journal of organizational Behavior, 13(2), 103-123.
Mael, F. A., & Ashforth, B. E. (1995). Loyal from day one: Biodata, organizational identification, and turnover among newcomers. Personnel Psychology, 48(2), 309-333.
Marks, M. A., Mathieu, J. E., & Zaccaro, S. J. (2001). A temporally based framework and taxonomy of team processes. Academy of management review, 26(3), 356-376.
Meneghel, I., Salanova, M., & Martínez, I. M. (2016). Feeling good makes us stronger: How team resilience mediates the effect of positive emotions on team performance. Journal of Happiness Studies, 17(1), 239-255.
Miller, D. T. (1976). Ego involvement and attributions for success and failure. Journal of personality and social psychology, 34(5), 901–906.
Morrison, E. W. (1993). Newcomer information seeking: Exploring types, modes, sources, and outcomes. Academy of Management Journal, 36(3), 557-589.
Newman, A., Ucbasaran, D., Zhu, F., & Hirst, G. (2014). Psychological capital: A review and synthesis. Journal of organizational Behavior, 35(S1), S120-S138.
Norman, S. M., Avey, J. B., Nimnicht, J. L., & Graber Pigeon, N. (2010). The interactive effects of psychological capital and organizational identity on employee organizational citizenship and deviance behaviors. Journal of Leadership & Organizational Studies, 17(4), 380-391.
Owens, B. P., & Hekman, D. R. (2012). Modeling how to grow: An inductive examination of humble leader behaviors, contingencies, and outcomes. Academy of Management Journal, 55(4), 787-818.
Owens, B. P., & Hekman, D. R. (2016). How does leader humility influence team performance? Exploring the mechanisms of contagion and collective promotion focus. Academy of Management Journal, 59(3), 1088-1111.
Owens, B. P., Johnson, M. D., & Mitchell, T. R. (2013). Expressed humility in organizations: Implications for performance, teams, and leadership. Organization Science, 24(5), 1517-1538.
Parker, S. K., & Collins, C. G. (2010). Taking stock: Integrating and differentiating multiple proactive behaviors. Journal of Management, 36(3), 633-662.
Payne, R., & Hauty, G. (1955). Effect of psychological feedback upon work decrement. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 50(6), 343–351.
Platow, M. J., Haslam, S. A., Foddy, M., & Grace, D. M. (2003). Leadership as the outcome of self-categorization processes. Leadership and power: Identity processes in groups and organizations, 34-47.
Porter, C. O., Hollenbeck, J. R., Ilgen, D. R., Ellis, A. P., West, B. J., & Moon, H. (2003). Backing up behaviors in teams: the role of personality and legitimacy of need. Journal of Applied Psychology, 88(3), 391–403.
Qian, J., Wang, B., Han, Z., & Song, B. (2017). Ethical leadership, leader-member exchange and feedback seeking: a double-moderated mediation model of emotional intelligence and work-unit structure. Frontiers in Psychology, 8, 1174.
Rego, A., Owens, B., Yam, K. C., Bluhm, D., Cunha, M. P. e., Silard, A., . . . Liu, W. (2019). Leader humility and team performance: Exploring the mediating mechanisms of team PsyCap and task allocation effectiveness. Journal of Management, 45(3), 1009-1033.
Reicher, S., Haslam, S. A., & Hopkins, N. (2005). Social identity and the dynamics of leadership: Leaders and followers as collaborative agents in the transformation of social reality. The Leadership Quarterly, 16(4), 547-568.
Renn, R. W., & Fedor, D. B. (2001). Development and field test of a feedback seeking, self-efficacy, and goal setting model of work performance. Journal of Management, 27(5), 563-583.
Rietzschel, E. F. (2011). Collective regulatory focus predicts specific aspects of team innovation. Group Processes & Intergroup Relations, 14(3), 337-345.
Roche, M., Haar, J. M., & Luthans, F. (2014). The role of mindfulness and psychological capital on the well-being of leaders. Journal of occupational health psychology, 19(4), 476.
Rogers, C. R. (1965). The concept of the fully functioning person. Pastoral Psychology, 16(3), 21-33.
Salas, E., Dickinson, T. L., Converse, S. A., & Tannenbaum, S. I. (1992). Toward an understanding of team performance and training: Ablex Publishing.
Schaubroeck, J., Lam, S. S., & Cha, S. E. (2007). Embracing transformational leadership: Team values and the impact of leader behavior on team performance. Journal of Applied Psychology, 92(4), 1020–1030.
Sedikides, C., Slabu, L., Lenton, A., & Thomaes, S. (2017). State authenticity. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 26(6), 521-525.
Shamir, B., House, R. J., & Arthur, M. B. (1993). The motivational effects of charismatic leadership: A self-concept based theory. Organization Science, 4(4), 577-594.
Shrout, Patrick E, & Bolger, Niall (2002). Mediation in experimental and nonexperimental studies: new procedures and recommendations. Psychological methods,7(4), 422.
Sluss, D. M., & Ashforth, B. E. (2007). Relational identity and identification: Defining ourselves through work relationships. Academy of management review, 32(1), 9-32.
Snow, D. A. (2013). Contagion theory. The Wiley‐Blackwell Encyclopedia of Social and Political Movements.
Stajkovic, A. D., Locke, E. A., & Blair, E. S. (2006). A first examination of the relationships between primed subconscious goals, assigned conscious goals, and task performance. Journal of Applied Psychology, 91(5), 1172–1180.
Steelman, L. A., Levy, P. E., & Snell, A. F. (2004). The feedback environment scale: Construct definition, measurement, and validation. Educational and psychological measurement, 64(1), 165-184.
Tangney, J. P. (2000). Humility: Theoretical perspectives, empirical findings and directions for future research. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 19(1), 70-82.
Turner, J. C. (2004). The social identity theory of intergroup behavior. In Political psychology (pp. 276-293): Psychology Press.
Vallaster, C., & Kraus, S. (2011). Entrepreneurial branding: growth and its implications for brand management. International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 14(3), 369-390.
Van den Bosch, R., & Taris, T. W. (2014). The authentic worker's well-being and performance: The relationship between authenticity at work, well-being, and work outcomes. The Journal of psychology, 148(6), 659-681.
Van Knippenberg, D. (2003). What are "intergroup relations", and why should we care? In M. A. W. D. T. K. G. Smith (Ed.), International Handbook of Organizational Teamwork and Cooperative Working (pp. 381): John Wiley & Sons.
Van Knippenberg, D., & Hogg, M. A. (2003). A social identity model of leadership effectiveness in organizations. Research in organizational behavior, 25, 243-295.
Van Knippenberg, D., & Van Schie, E. C. (2000). Foci and correlates of organizational identification. Journal of occupational and organizational psychology, 73(2), 137-147.
Vanno, V., Kaemkate, W., & Wongwanich, S. (2014). Relationships between academic performance, perceived group psychological capital, and positive psychological capital of Thai undergraduate students. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 116, 3226-3230.
Walumbwa, F. O., Avolio, B. J., Gardner, W. L., Wernsing, T. S., & Peterson, S. J. (2008). Authentic leadership: Development and validation of a theory-based measure. Journal of Management, 34(1), 89-126.
Walumbwa, F. O., & Hartnell, C. A. (2011). Understanding transformational leadership–employee performance links: The role of relational identification and self‐efficacy. Journal of occupational and organizational psychology, 84(1), 153-172.
Walumbwa, F. O., & Schaubroeck, J. (2009). Leader personality traits and employee voice behavior: mediating roles of ethical leadership and work group psychological safety. Journal of Applied Psychology, 94(5), 1275.
Walumbwa, F. O., Wu, C., & Orwa, B. (2008). Contingent reward transactional leadership, work attitudes, and organizational citizenship behavior: The role of procedural justice climate perceptions and strength. The Leadership Quarterly, 19(3), 251-265.
West, B. J., Patera, J. L., & Carsten, M. K. (2009). Team level positivity: Investigating positive psychological capacities and team level outcomes. Journal of Organizational Behavior: The International Journal of Industrial, Occupational and Organizational Psychology and Behavior, 30(2), 249-267.