Why is teamworking important?
Whether you’re studying the theory of teamwork as part of a degree or other course, or just trying to develop your own knowledge or expertise, this page will help. Here you’ll find some extra resources relating to our article: Why is Teamwork Important.
These resources will help to develop your understanding of why teamwork is important, and help you put it into action!
The sources are mainly on-line so that you can easily access them by clicking the links. We’ve also put together some links to the extensive collection of other resources available on The Happy Manager.
On this page you’ll find:
- A wide range of reference sources to help you develop your understanding of why teamwork is important.
- Sources structured around the 8 topics, complete with notes to highlight what might be particularly helpful in each source.
Why is teamworking important?
8 good reasons!
1: Teamwork creates synergy – where the sum is greater than the parts.
Synergy is by no means a given. It doesn’t just happen and it is often difficult to achieve. Follow the argument about why teamworking in the workplace is so important. Hackman argues that “teams that function well can indeed achieve a level of synergy and agility that never could be reprogrammed by organization planners or enforced by external managers.” (p248).
What differentiates a team with real synergy?
2: Teamwork supports a more empowered way of working, removing constraints which may prevent someone doing their job properly.
Teamwork doesn’t just happen. This article explores the conditions under which teamwork in the workplace can flourish.
Creating the conditions for teamwork
3: Teamwork promotes flatter and leaner structures, with less hierarchy.
This article is about leadership being shared more widely, but it is also about teams being effective. On page 235 you’ll find several reasons explaining why shared leadership is becoming more important. This echoes the growing importance of teamwork in the workplace. Flatter structures and less hierarchy are a prominent feature of this discussion. The examples of businesses such as Southwest Airlines and W.L. Gore can be really useful in providing evidence to support your argument.
What differentiates a team with real synergy?
4: Teamwork encourages multi-disciplinary work where teams cut across organisational divides.
This report for the UK’s National Health Service brings together ideas about shared leadership and multi-disciplinary teams. Note how the emphasis on teams across different disciplines is emphasised. This report also has some good reference links at the end.
Multidisciplinary teams and shared leadership
5: Teamwork fosters flexibility and responsiveness, especially the ability to respond to change.
This journal article provides an insightful discussion of W.L. Gore (world famous manufacturers of Goretex). Note how flexibility, responsiveness, teams and self-leadership all come together to help Gore perform as a business.
Flexibility, teams and leadership at W.L. Gore
6: Teamwork pleases customers who like working with good teams (sometimes the customer may be part of the team).
Thinking of the customer as part of the team is a challenging perspective.
Putting customers centre-stage
7: Teamwork promotes the sense of achievement, equity and camaraderie, essential for a motivated workplace.
Note how the explanation of each of the three aspects in this article relate to teams. The final aspect, camaraderie is specifically related to teamwork in the workplace.
Achievement equity and camaraderie
8: Teamwork, when managed properly, is a better way to work!
See this article to explore how teams and teamwork are defined and the benefits that can result.
Building better teams
If you want to put our teamwork concept into action, you’ll find more information and a wealth of practical resources, in our colossal Team Building Bundle.
Containing 240 pages and 50 tools, these are the 8 key guides we recommend to help you do more than define teamwork, build it!
Why is Teamwork Important
Build a Better Team
The Problems with Teams
Team Health Check
Team Building Exercises
Leading with Style and Focus
What’s the Problem?
Making Better Decisions