<![CDATA[Contemporary teamwork study remains heavily skewed toward leadership styles, often neglecting the horizontal influence of peer behavior. Therefore, this study aimed to challenge the “heroic leader” paradigm by examining the impact of leader behavior (structured vs. open) and member behavior (inclusive vs. exclusive) on individual contributions. To achieve this objective, a novel 2 X 2 randomized vignette design was used, where scenarios were Artificial Intelligence (AI)-generated to ensure high internal validity and eliminate expert bias. Analyzing data from 375 participants, the results showed a critical shift in teamwork theory. For instance, individual contributions were significantly driven by peer inclusiveness, while leadership styles, and the interaction between variables, produced no significant effect. These results confirmed that the “peer climate” overrode formal leadership directives in high-stakes collaborative environments. Therefore, this study advocated for a paradigm shift in organizational training, moving away from top-down leadership development toward fostering “inclusive followership” as the primary driver of team effectiveness.]]>
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