The proficiency trap: How to balance enriched job designs and the team's need for support

The present study seeks to enlighten our understanding of ways to promote the performance of teams of professionals. Considering that job enrichment practices might block support for a team, and hence its performance, the study examined the moderating effects of cultural factors, namely individualism-collectivism and power distance, and the team leader's practices as a source of support in the job enrichment-team support relationship. Further, the study examined the mediating role of team support in improving the performance of professional teams. Results from 56 healthcare teams from different hospitals indicated that attempts to promote professionals' performance should consider at a minimum how to balance job enrichment practices and the team's need for support. The findings suggest that this balance could be achieved by emphasizing the support provided by the leader, and by strengthening the cultural values of low power distance and collectivism in the team.