托福口语 Task 3

Social loafing is a phenomenon in which individuals exert less effort when working in a group than when working alone. This occurs because people feel their individual contributions are less identifiable in a group setting, leading to reduced motivation and responsibility. Research shows that social loafing can undermine group productivity and is more likely to occur in larger groups or when tasks are simple and repetitive. However, it can be reduced by making each member’s contribution visible and valued.

Professor: Let me give you an example from a company I consulted for. They had a team of five designers working on a project to create a new product label. Initially, they all worked together in a large meeting, brainstorming ideas. The manager noticed that two designers were very quiet and contributed little. When I interviewed them, they said they felt their ideas wouldn't stand out because everyone was talking at once. So, we changed the approach. We divided the project into specific tasks—each designer was responsible for a unique part, like one for typography, one for colors, others for layout. We also required each to present their part to the whole team and receive feedback. After that, all five designers became fully engaged, and the final label was much more creative and polished. The key was making each person's contribution clearly identifiable.