Lecture on Teaming and Its Importance

Introduction

Date & Event: August 5, 2010, San José Copper Mine collapse in Northern Chile.
Incident: 33 miners trapped half a mile underground.
- Harsh conditions: intense heat, filth, limited food.
- Initial belief: No existing technology could save them.
- Outcome: All miners rescued within 70 days.

Definition: Teaming is "teamwork on the fly" - working with diverse people across various boundaries (expertise, distance, etc.) without fixed teams.
Comparison to sports teams:
- Sports teams: Stable, practiced, small groups working towards a shared outcome.
- Teaming: More akin to a pickup game, less structured, necessary for modern fast-paced work environments.
Work environments requiring teaming:
- Hospitals: Continuous, varied patient care needing coordination among numerous caregivers.
- Disney Animation: Dynamic collaboration among artists, scientists, storytellers to create films like "Frozen."

Modern Work Environment: Increasingly requires collaboration with changing individuals.
Complex Problem Solving: Teaming is essential for solving large-scale, unpredictable challenges.
- Example: Paul Polman’s view on global challenges needing collaboration.

Professional Culture Clash:
- Different professions have varying values, time frames, and jargon.
- Example: Software engineers vs. real estate developers in smart city projects.
The "Me or You" Mindset:
- Competitive mindset can hinder collaboration.
- Overcoming this fosters effective teamwork and innovation.

Collaborative Effort: Hundreds from various sectors and nations worked together.
Leadership & Humility: Successful teaming required situational humility and curiosity.
- Situational Humility: Leaders acknowledged they didn’t have all the answers.
- Psychological Safety: Creating an environment where individuals felt safe to speak up and experiment.
Outcome:
- Breakthrough on the 17th day, continuous efforts led to successful rescue.

Curiosity and Generosity: Essential for overcoming biases and fostering collaboration.
Effective Teaming Mindset:
- Be open to knowing others and sharing your own skills.
- Recognize and utilize the unique talents of others for collective success.

Impact of Teaming: Enables remarkable achievements like rescues, patient care, and creative projects.
Call to Action: Embrace the teaming mindset to contribute to collective goals and innovations.