If you think of all the people who represent individual success in life, such as Henry Ford, Steve
Jobs, Bill Gates, and Jack Ma, you might be tempted to think that they alone were responsible for their
success. However, if you look beneath the surface, their achievements can be attributed to the people
they surround themselves with. By working with others, they can maximize their efforts far beyond their
individual capacity. Succeeding as a team far surpasses individual achievement because the team can
coordinate and utilize many different strengths and everyone can benefit from a collective success.
The truth is, people have different types and degrees of personal strengths, and it is unlikely
that a single individual can excel in all areas. High-end companies such as Tesla and Google only hire the
best applicants for each position. If one were to be mildly adequate in all areas and gauge his or her
achievements as an individual, they may not be able to succeed in this type of professional environment.
A team would succeed, however, because having the best person in every role allows meaningful
contribution from all members and elevates the team to higher performance levels. Clearly a team
effort is more prone to success simply because of the variety and depth of skills. Team effort doesn’t just
offer more and better strengths, but it also allows individuals to benefit from the group effort.
Simply put, a team effort benefits individuals because the very act of working as a group,
whether as a sports team or group project, prepares each individual for the future. For example,
students must prepare group projects and learn values such as cooperation. This type of work allows
students to share the workload and support each other if any members struggle. Overall, teamwork and
collective effort allow individuals to benefit from a positive working experience.
Though some may argue full control of your own success is superior to teamwork, this is not the
case in most parts of society. For example, even famous solo musicians have a cadre of supporters at
every point in the career, ranging from stagehand to producers to agents. Each artist works in a team for
their success. Another concern for those who favor individualism may be the lack of contribution from
certain teammates or peers. However, learning to adapt to these situations allows you to grow as an
individual. Any objections towards teamwork are often overcome once the person experiences a
successful collaboration.
Clearly, working as a team provides advantages including the multitude of skills that are
available and the collective benefits reaped by all members of the group. The next time you are part of a
team, consider the benefits of a group effort over what you could accomplish on your own.