Social Loafing- Essence and Strategies to Optimizing Group Performance

Abstract

Social loafing is a phenomenon where individuals exert less effort to achieve a goal when they work in group compared to working alone, often undermining team productivity and cohesion. The effect of social loafing manifests itself every time when the overall result of joint activity, consisting of the individual contributions of all group members, is important. Key causes of social loafing include the lack of motivation, perceived inequity, unclear roles, and diffusion of responsibility. These factors lead to consequences such as decreased efficiency, interpersonal conflicts, reduced team cohesion, and burnout among active members. The current dynamics of social and economic development require increased efficiency of activity, including in groups, which is why social loafing is becoming an important issue of psychological research. We based our research on an extensive literature review of scientific articles dealing with the issue of social loafing. Also, we elaborated and applied a questionnaire. To address social loafing, strategies such as defining clear roles, setting specific and motivating goals, fostering trust, and recognizing individual contributions are essential. Integrating modern technologies to track performance, promoting diversity, and providing opportunities for personal growth further enhance engagement. By implementing these approaches, social loafing can be effectively mitigated, transforming it into a driver of collaboration and collective success. CZU: 005.32:331.101.33; JEL: D23, O15