Core Aspects of Global Teamwork

Today, we will start our journey of exploration through the 'teamwork landscape'. As promised, we are going to create a set of tools that will improve your ability to work in teams on a global basis. This means better collaboration with anyone, regardless of time or place.

We call this set of tools the 'Core elements of Global Teamwork', and it is made up of three groups of elements. They are 'core aspects, core modes and core assets of teamwork'. The three colourful round icons in the graphic represent these groups.

In this post, we are introducing the first group called the "core aspects of teamwork". Later, we will address the other two groups and find out how they relate to one another.

When you consider the 'core aspects of global teamwork', think of them as the four cardinal points on a compass - North, South, East and West. Whatever your global position, a compass and the four cardinal points will help you navigate and orientate yourself (where am I and in what direction will I move next... North, South, East or West?).

However, to navigate and orientate ourselves on the 'teamwork landscape', we need a different kind of compass. This compass should focus on helping you and your team efficiently navigate and orientate yourselves (how are we performing at the moment and what aspects can we improve?). This is why our 'teamwork compass' does not employ the “cardinal points” of North, South, East and West to point us in the right direction. Instead, it uses the 'core aspects' to designate our course. Connection, Communication, Contribution and Coordination. These 'core aspects of teamwork' help us find our route by prompting four questions:

1. How can we better connect with each other?
2. How can we better communicate with each other?
3. How can we better contribute in conjunction with each other?
4. How can we better coordinate matters together?


By examining these questions with your team and answering them together, you’ll subconsciously start a continuous teamwork improvement process. Not by plotting the route taken by the team from behind a desk, but by determining a shared route together. Step-by-step as a team, as a single unit and as a family.

Applying this 'teamwork compass' will require time and practice. As we mentioned in our previous post, 'practice and experience in teamwork are necessary to master this!' Please remember to start off with small steps. Begin by thinking about it and experimenting with it.

If you have any questions, please enter them into the comments box below and we’ll be delighted to help.

Stay tuned for our next post! We’ll be delving into the 'core modes of teamwork'.