Academy9 Insights – Talking Teamwork
Sophie Piper works at Jacobs and has been a Project Manager there for three years. She has worked across a number of different industries including Defence, Water, Environment and Social Value. Before she started work at Jacobs Sophie spent 11 years in the British Army as a Royal Engineers officer. During her time in the Army, she did a lot of Development work, providing critical infrastructure to those in need including toilets, clean water and buildings for houses and schools. Throughout her career whether in Nepal, Kenya or Scotland there has been many new lessons to take away, but there has been one common theme throughout which is the importance of collaborative work and teamwork.
What Is Teamwork?
Have you ever worked on a school project with your classmates? Maybe a science experiment, a group presentation, or even a sports team? That’s teamwork—and it’s one of the most valuable skills you can learn in school and beyond.Teamwork means working together with others to achieve a common goal. It’s about sharing ideas, helping one another, and using everyone’s strengths to do something great.
Why Is Teamwork Important?
Not one person is good at everything—but everyone is good at something. When we work together, we combine our talents and ideas to get better results.
For example:
- In a group science project, one student might be great at research, another at organising information, and someone else at presenting. Together, you make a stronger team than any one person alone.
- In sports, like football or netball, players have different roles. A striker can’t win a game without defenders and a goalkeeper.
- Even in school events, like drama performances, every helping hand matters—from planning and setting up to performing or cleaning up!
Learning Through Teamwork
When you collaborate with others, you learn how to:
- Communicate your ideas clearly
- Listen to other points of view
- Respect differences
- Solve problems together
- Support and motivate each other
These are all skills that are just as important as reading or maths—and they help you not only in school but also later in life.
Final Thoughts
Teamwork isn’t always easy—sometimes people disagree or want to do things their own way. But learning how to work through those challenges makes you a stronger person and a better teammate.
So next time you’re asked to work in a group, don’t roll your eyes. See it as a chance to learn, grow, and achieve something great—together!
