On August 5, 2010, a catastrophic collapse at the San José copper mine in northern Chile trapped a team of 33 miners half a mile underground beneath some of the hardest rock in the world. In what seemed an insurmountable challenge, the rescue effort faced numerous obstacles: the exact location of the refuge was unknown, and no existing drilling technology could reach the miners quickly enough to save them.

Yet, remarkably, 70 days later, all 33 men were rescued alive—a feat that stands as a testament to the power of “teaming.”

What is Teaming?

According to Amy Edmondson, a Harvard Business School professor, teaming is “teamwork on the fly.” Unlike traditional teams, which are stable, well-practiced, and built on long-term relationships, teaming involves rapidly coordinating and collaborating across different boundaries—expertise, distance, and time zones to solve complex problems.

Edmondson highlights that this way of working is becoming increasingly necessary today.

“We don’t have the luxury of stable teams,” she explains, citing the constant need for adaptability in industries like healthcare and film production. In hospitals, for instance, the average patient interacts with around 60 caregivers during their stay, all of whom must coordinate effectively without the benefit of pre-existing relationships. Similarly, the creation of an animated film like Frozen involves hundreds of artists, scientists, and engineers who must constantly collaborate in changing teams.

The Challenge of Teaming

Teaming is not easy.

It requires individuals from different disciplines, companies, or even countries to work together effectively, often without ever having worked together before.

Edmondson explains that traditional teams, such as sports teams, succeed because they practice together and develop trust over time. Teaming, on the other hand, is more like a “pickup game” where strangers must collaborate on the spot, with little or no preparation.

One major obstacle is what Edmondson calls “professional culture clash.”

She points to a smart-city project she studied where software engineers and real estate developers struggled to make progress because of their vastly different time frames, priorities, and jargon. These differences can make it difficult for individuals from diverse fields to understand and collaborate with one another effectively.

Lessons from the Chilean Mine Rescue

The Chilean mine rescue offers a powerful example of how successful teaming can overcome even the most daunting challenges.

Hundreds of individuals from different professions, sectors, and nations came together, despite daily failures, to devise a solution. Over time, through relentless experimentation and perseverance, the rescuers broke through to the refuge on the 17th day, establishing a lifeline for the trapped miners.

Edmondson attributes this success to a few key factors: situational humility, curiosity, and psychological safety.

Leaders across all levels recognized that they didn’t have all the answers and encouraged open communication and experimentation. This situational humility fostered a sense of psychological safety, enabling team members to take risks, share ideas, and ask for help without fear of judgment.

The Future of Teaming

In a world where problems are increasingly complex and unpredictable, teaming is essential for innovation. Edmondson argues that grand-scale challenges like climate change, urbanization, and smart-city development cannot be tackled by individuals, single companies, or even sectors working alone.

Instead, we must embrace the mindset of collaboration, reaching across professional and organizational boundaries to pool our collective expertise.

One crucial lesson, Edmondson points out, is that collaboration requires overcoming not just logistical barriers but also psychological ones. Too often, we see others as competitors rather than potential collaborators, limiting our ability to innovate and solve big problems.

Drawing from Abraham Lincoln’s words, Edmondson reminds us:

“I don’t like that man very much. I must get to know him better.”

Abraham Lincoln

The more we understand and appreciate others’ perspectives, the better equipped we are to team up and achieve extraordinary results.

The Wrap

Teaming offers a blueprint for how individuals and organizations can tackle the world’s most pressing challenges. Whether rescuing miners, saving patients, or designing the cities of the future, the power of collaboration—built on humility, curiosity, and trust—can lead to truly remarkable outcomes.

Edmondson leaves us with a final call to action: “Look to your left, look to your right. How quickly can you find the unique talents, skills, and hopes of your neighbor, and how quickly, in turn, can you convey what you bring?”

For those seeking to build a better future, teaming may be the key to unlocking the potential that none of us can realize alone.