4. TEAMWORK AND COMMUNICATION

Teamwork is a key competency expected in most workplaces, especially where complex tasks require differing areas of expertise. Working in teams allows us to address the increasing complexity of large projects, and integrate a diversity of skills, experiences, and expertise to complete them more quickly and skillfully than  individuals working alone. Imagine how many people must work together to designs a sophisticated product like Skyrim (check out this information on the Skyrim development team if you want to know the answer).

Team Synergy describes the phenomenon when “the whole is more than the sum of its parts” — that is,  when the team’s achievement exceeds the sum of what each team member could achieve working individually. We know that team synergy and team intelligence generally lead to greater efficiency and better results. Why, then, do some people resist or even dread working in teams? Perhaps they have had ineffective or dysfunctional teamwork experiences in the past. While sometimes the culprit in these situations is a “poor team player” more often, these issues emerge from one of three things:  misaligned goals, confusion over roles, or unclear team processes — all of which originate from poor communication.

You have likely engaged in “group work” in many of your classes; this may have been productive and fun, or may have seemed pointless or even frustrating, depending on a variety of factors. But keep in mind that a group is not the same as a team. Teams work interdependently, hold each other accountable, and have shared goals. Where a group may be comprised of several individuals each working on separate but connected tasks, a team actively collaborates, relying on the diverse skills and clearly defined processes to navigate crises and conflicts, and supporting each other to achieve their common goals synergistically.

For teamwork to function effectively, team members must trust each other and feel able to safely discuss ideas and concerns. Building this trusting environment requires all team members not only to communicate effectively, but also to practice empathy.  Watch this RSA short 3 minute video in which Brené Brown distinguishes between empathy and sympathy, and explains the profound impact of practicing empathy.

Clear and empathetic communication is an essential ingredient for a well functioning team. This is why teamwork is taught explicitly in this text. Very few people intuitively know how to communicate in a way that allows them to collaborate effectively and equitably; this requires deliberate practice. Therefore, this chapter applies the design thinking approach we have used so far to help you understand what mindsets, skills, and processes lead to effective collaboration and becoming part of a high performing team.