Reflection and Learning: The Gateway(s) to Team Resilience? A Serial Mediation Model of Team Reflexivity and Team Learning

Abstract

The current study contributes to the growing body of research on the topic of resilience. Specifically, it examined the role of team learning orientation as a potential predictor of team resilience. Furthermore, the study also investigated the underlying mechanisms that may be at play; in particular, by testing whether team reflexivity and team learning sequentially mediate the relationship. The research hypotheses were tested using team-level data collected from organizations that are geographically located in Germany, the Netherlands, United Kingdom, and Italy and operate in various sectors, ranging from healthcare to manufacturing. Team members rated team learning orientation, team reflexivity, team learning, team resilience, and the perceived impact of COVID-19 on team functioning. The team-level data analyses revealed a significant relationship between team learning orientation and team resilience. Moreover, that this relationship may be mediated by team learning. However, the study did not find team reflexivity and team learning to sequentially mediate the relationship between team learning orientation and team resilience. With these results, theoretical and practical implications are made in the hopes to encourage future researchers to further study the variables examined and inspire leaders to take actions in building team resilience with their respective teams. Furthermore, limitations of the study, as well as recommendations for the future, are discussed.