Can creative personalities in teams lead to better conflict resolution and improved performance? This research investigates the link between creativity, conflict, and team effectiveness. This paper explores how creative personality influences the development of conflict within teams and how these conflict patterns subsequently impact team outcomes. The research contends that a higher team average level of implicit creative personality is associated with functional profiles of team conflict, indicating norms of lively debate and a strong work ethic. Using data from over 240 teams, the findings largely support the theory that creative personality contributes to constructive conflict management, ultimately benefiting various aspects of team effectiveness. Implications for theory and practice are discussed, focusing on how creative personality affects team processes and team outcomes, clarifying the influence of creative teams.
Published in Group & Organization Management, this paper aligns with the journal's focus on organizational psychology and management. It contributes to the understanding of team dynamics, specifically how individual personality traits like creativity influence team conflict and performance. By exploring the relationship between creative personality and team conflict profiles, the research adds to the ongoing discussions within the field of organizational behavior.