How Teamwork Increases Intelligence

John Foley
Aug 1, 2013
1 min read

Teamwork is a simple idea that became incredibly important when I flew with The Blue Angels; making several airborne planes look like they’re welded together isn’t something you can do alone. That’s why I was struck by an interesting study conducted last year which suggests the benefits of teamwork might be far greater than efficient outcomes. Over time, the study shows, cooperation among groups opens new paths in the brain, and can actually lead to a massive evolution in intelligence.

What’s interesting is, if we focus that idea down, it reveals just how complex cooperation is in business. First of all, teamwork isn’t just a matter of getting things done faster or easier. It’s an approach to execution that yields higher quality results, and in the process, creates bonds that can have positive effects on the team and on the individual. Those bonds have a power that far exceeds immediate success. When teams work together, information is exchanged. Mentoring and education become natural extensions. And best of all, the impact of these relationships grows with every team success.

So look at your organization in this light. What can you accomplish together instead of individually? It’s not about whether the task gets done, it’s about the quality of the work, and the beneficial relationships a team can build, together. What we achieve as a group can increase the effectiveness and intelligence of an entire team.