Teamwork versus individual work

1. Career development
2. Teamwork vs. Individual Work: Definitions and 8 Key Differences

By Indeed Editorial Team

Published August 11, 2021

The Indeed Editorial Team comprises a diverse and talented team of writers, researchers and subject matter experts equipped with Indeed's data and insights to deliver useful tips to help guide your career journey.

Teamwork and individual work both have advantages and disadvantages that can make them better suited to some tasks over others. In many work environments, opportunities for both individual work and teamwork may be available to you. Having experience or knowledge in both styles of work can help you adapt to either in order to complete your projects. In this article, we define what teamwork and individual work are and some key differences between them.

What is teamwork?

Teamwork is when you coordinate and collaborate with one or more individuals who share the same goal. Working with other people allows for more diverse thoughts and different perspectives. Each different approach can help contribute to team success and learning. Working closely in a team also helps build workplace relationships and creates a connected work environment.

Related: How To Achieve Teamwork Success

What is individual work?

Individual work is the process of completing tasks independently. Working individually allows you to focus on what you want or need to accomplish a task. You have complete control of the direction and process of how you work. Being able to concentrate on your own work can help you focus on improving your work processes to become more efficient.

Related: What It Means To Work Individually: Pros and Cons

Teamwork vs. individual work: 8 key differences

Key differences between teamwork and individual work include:

1. Collaboration

Collaborating with team members can be beneficial to your work environment by building stronger relationships through shared experiences and cooperative efforts. Working closely with other people can help you approach tasks and projects in new ways to gain a new point of view.

When working individually, you may still have frequent interactions with your coworkers but without working as closely with them. You can take the initiative to offer or ask for your coworker's advice or assistance to have more opportunities to collaborate.

2. Decision-making

When working individually, the decisions are yours to make. You have control over what tasks you do and the order in which you do them. Some individuals excel at managing themselves, and some people may work better under the direction of others. With teamwork, most members must agree on a decision, or there might be an individual in charge of managing the entire team who makes executive decisions.

Related: The Benefits of Working Alone

3. Idea generation

When generating new ideas, having a team to consult with can allow for more diverse and innovative outcomes. Each team member has a unique background and skill set that they can contribute to idea generation techniques. With the individual strengths and knowledge of each member, there's a wide variety of ideas that everyone can form together to start a new project or product development.

4. Motivation

Working with team members can help motivate you. Having others to collaborate with and encourage you through your progress can help with increasing your productivity. Knowing that you have team members to support you can boost your confidence and input of effort.

Others working independently may self-motivate by evaluating their progress and success in a task or project. By assessing the work they've accomplished, they can find the motivation to prompt themselves to complete their tasks. Identifying alternative approaches to their project can also help renew their inspiration.

5. Productivity

It may be easier to focus on tasks when working individually. Being able to work on your own may help you complete tasks more efficiently in a process that works for you. When working with a team, you may have to work on a task you have little experience doing, or you may have to switch tasks with others to complete a project. However, with larger projects, dividing the group work to suit each team member's skills can make work more productive.

Related: Teamwork Skills: Definition and Examples

6. Responsibilities

Working individually means that you're the sole person responsible for the entire process and results of a project or product. Having sole responsibility means that you also receive credit for all of your work. Working individually can help you receive recognition apart from others, which is why it may also be beneficial for those seeking career advancement opportunities.

In team settings, team members share their responsibilities and credit. In some instances, you can exchange delegated responsibilities with other members. Team leaders or managers can give their team members the tasks that best suit their skill set, which can help the entire team succeed at a faster work pace. They can also assign responsibilities that are meant to develop skills they may need to improve.

7. Skill development

Developing a skill on your own can help you focus on tasks that are beneficial for that development, and you can focus on the areas that can most benefit you currently and in the future. If you learn best by directly applying yourself to a task, individual skill development may work better for you. Working independently can also mean that you have more time to focus and deeply concentrate on learning a new skill or improving your existing ones.

However, collaborating with team members that may be strong in a skill you want to develop can also help you progress and guide you with firsthand knowledge and advice. If you learn best through observation and directions, learning from someone else may be more productive. When working with a team, you may also receive tasks with which you've had little experience. This can also help you in developing skills you haven't considered yet.

8. Time management

Working individually and with a team both require good time management skills. When coordinating with multiple people, each person has their own schedule to consider. However, some people perform well under time constraints and can accomplish more tasks when working with other people. While working individually, you can work at your own pace, set your own project schedules and choose how you prioritize your tasks in a way that is most efficient for you. However, this means you may need to be more self-disciplined in organizing your tasks and completing your work.

Why is it better to work individually?

Why is it better to succeed as a team than individual?