Inspired by the sustainable development of teams, this study tested the influence of respectful behaviors on enhancing team creativity through reflective practices aimed at continuous improvement. We collected survey data from 408 members of 91 knowledge-worker teams in China using a two-wave timelagged method and employed hierarchical regression analysis to test the hypotheses. The results revealed that team reflexivity mediated the relationship between team respectful engagement and team creativity, and team goal clarity positively moderated the relationship between team reflexivity and team creativity. Our findings highlight respectful engagement as a psychological resource and team reflexivity as a cognitive process that supports sustainable creativity. By fostering affirmation and empowerment, teams can better navigate challenges and adapt. Respectful and reflective practices thus enable teams to sustain effort and preserve their long-term capacity to generate novel, functional ideas.
Huang et al. (2026) studied this question.