Team working
Read about the elements to team working in our guide.
- What is team working?
- Why is team working important?
- How can you improve your team working?
Improve your team working
Team working is essential to performing research.
Read our guide below on the importance of team working and the skills needed to undertake it.
What is team working?
Team working involves managing and leading in a constructive way towards a common goal with colleagues, acknowledging the contribution of others.
Why is team working important?
- Working well with others in a team is an essential skill for life
- Teams consist of a diversity of people and skills – all the team members must be orientated towards action
- The team and the team’s goals are prioritised over the individual
How can you improve your team working?
Understand your preferred role in a team
Use a self-evaluation questionnaire such as Belbin’s analysis of team roles to understand how you perform in teams
Understand what makes an effective team
Explore team roles and preferred ways of working in your team
Get to know your colleagues
Try to understand how they think and why. Understand what is important to your colleagues and be open to differing viewpoints, even if these conflict with your own
Make use of colleagues’ expertise
Recognise your colleagues’ skills and get them involved in your research and areas of research projects that match their skills
Acknowledge contributions and team success
Give credit to people for their contributions within your research team but also to non-academic staff. This builds a positive working environment and mutual respect.
Communicate openly and honestly
Discuss issues as they arise and don’t blame others. Try to suggest a solution if there is a problem; be willing to ask for help if you don’t have a solution.
Final takeaways
- Team working involves managing and leading in a constructive way towards a common goal with colleagues, acknowledging the contribution of others.
- Understand your preferred role in a team –use a self-evaluation questionnaire such as Belbin’s analysis of team roles to understand how you perform in teams
- Acknowledge contributions and team success – give credit to people for their contributions within your research team but also to non-academic staff. This builds a positive working environment and mutual respect.