Group Flow: A Theory of Group Member Interactions in the Moment and over Time

Groups often struggle to live up to expectations. However, there are times when groups are said to be in flow—when interactions appear effortless as group members contribute in synchrony to reach peak levels of collaborative performance. Existing research on group effectiveness has provided limited insight into the momentary and changing pattern of group member interactions that enable such performance. We adopt a process perspective to unpack the temporal dynamics of group flow—a state characterized by full, seemingly effortless attention, shared positive emotional arousal, and additive, swift contributions—to theorize the momentary interactions through which group flow emerges. In doing so, we highlight the importance of the timing of contributions, how contributions relate to each other, and group momentum. Lastly, we specify how group flow enhances group effectiveness, including peak collaborative performance, group viability, and individual well-being.