In lower-performing groups, team members tend to offer more supportive statements than other types of comments.

In lower-performing groups, team members tend to offer more supportive statements than other types of comments.

• A. True
• B. Not enough information
• C. False
• D. Sometimes.

Answer: (C)

In teams that aren’t performing well, the talking tends to be less about encouragement and collaboration and more about getting through tasks with tension, blame, or uncertainty. Supportive statements require a level of psychological safety and trust; when a group struggles, members are less likely to consistently offer warm, affirming comments, and more likely to default to critical, defensive, or ambiguous remarks. Because of that shift in tone and focus, the idea that lower-performing groups tend to offer more supportive statements isn’t accurate. Higher-performing teams, by contrast, typically foster more constructive and supportive dialogue that helps people contribute openly.

In teams that aren’t performing well, the talking tends to be less about encouragement and collaboration and more about getting through tasks with tension, blame, or uncertainty. Supportive statements require a level of psychological safety and trust; when a group struggles, members are less likely to consistently offer warm, affirming comments, and more likely to default to critical, defensive, or ambiguous remarks. Because of that shift in tone and focus, the idea that lower-performing groups tend to offer more supportive statements isn’t accurate. Higher-performing teams, by contrast, typically foster more constructive and supportive dialogue that helps people contribute openly.