A less capable member of a group works harder when performance is conjunctive and the partner is moderately stronger, reversing the usual loss from working together.
Köhler found in 1926 that Berlin rowing club members lifting a weight in pairs persisted longer than their individual performance predicted, provided the discrepancy between partners was moderate. Too small and there is no reason to strive; too large and the weaker member gives up. It is the mirror image of social loafing and depends on the weaker member's effort being indispensable and visible.
In practice
- A pair programming session where one is somewhat stronger raises the weaker partner's output above their solo rate.
- A relay team's slowest runner produces a personal best, and the same runner in a time trial does not.
- Subject
- Creativity & Work
- Essay
- What gets in the way of good work