Integral TeamWork; Building Extra-ordinary Team Performance

By Jay Davies, ID Consultant and Researcher

The essence of Integral Teamwork is based on Ken Wilber’s Integral Theory and makes a powerful difference in the workplace because it includes ways to improve individual well being, team culture, team effectiveness and team efficiency. Many teams in the workplace operate effectively and efficiently but have minimal regard for the individuals or the culture in which they work. Corporate leaders are increasingly recognising that for a team to continually work at high levels of performance the work needs to be satisfying, meaningful and individual team members need to be appreciated for their contribution.

Integral Development has a range of tools and processes that can help leaders and their teams take steps toward achieving sustainable, balanced and high level performance. These include;
• The Integral Team Effectiveness Measure
• Integral TeamWork Workshops 1& 2 days
• Team ‘Rolles’ Profile
• Team Coaching
• Evaluation of My Contribution to a Team

ID facilitators help a team to recognise its potential by first defining what dimensions of Integral TeamWork are working well and what are the specific areas in need of improvement. Action plans, timelines, responsibilities and coaching are put in place to ensure progress is made. ID has worked with a large number of teams in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors such as Wesfarmers, Silver Chain, The Royal Navy and local governments to progress toward Integral TeamWork. ID has also worked with a number of executive teams to build cohesion, focus and commitment of the senior executives to all be moving in the same direction.



At the core of Integral Teamwork is individual effectiveness and development. ID teaches each team member a number of techniques and skills to help them become ‘integral’ to the team. Team leaders are also taught what they need to do to be a role model of teamwork and effective leadership.

A unique dimension of Integral Teamwork is the team’s ability to provide its product and services in a way that does no harm to the environment. This involves all individual performance as well as the whole team to operate in a way that minimises any harm to the environment and truly create a workplace that is aligned with the world it operates in.

Some may question whether this approach is idealistic or practical. It is not so much a question of teams adopting an Integral way of working but when they will. With increasing competition, increasing customer expectation for outstanding quality at the lowest possible prices and the pressure to operate an environmentally friendly business, integral teamwork is not just a nice way to do business it will be the only way we can operate our teams if they are to succeed in the future.