Digital collaboration
  |  
  |  
February 8, 2024
  |  
0
 min read

Teamwork 2024 Report: This isn't working

In this article
Listen to this article
5:14min

Here’s some real talk: Chances are two-thirds of you reading this right now have one eye towards the door. We’re not exaggerating. Frankly, we were a little surprised ourselves. We knew the state of teamwork wasn’t great, but two-thirds? That’s not even a coin flip. And it’s all because of how you’re working.

Sure, we all have tools and teammates and meetings about deadlines and goals. Maybe we have resources to achieve those goals, so we can work together and even feel proud of our accomplishments. Seems simple, right?

Except it’s not. Lately, tools feel overwhelming, multiplying and overlapping. Meetings feel even more pointless. Deadlines are unrealistic. And the resources… what resources?!

With so much meant to make work easier… why is working together still so f***ing hard?

We wanted to find out.

We decided to take a page from Elmo’s book and ask the simple question, “How’s everyone doing?” More specifically, we surveyed 1,000 knowledge workers from all over the US, about teamwork. 

So, yeah, two-thirds. Two-thirds of knowledge workers aren’t very happy with how their team works together. Woof.

The cost is real. Nearly 3 in 5 knowledge workers have actively thought about leaving their current positions or have already applied for new jobs due to bad teamwork. That’s over half of your team. If you’re a team of 3? Yikes.

And while they’re trying to make it work, 52% say they've experienced burnout and 45% say crappy teamwork pushed other people out the door. Not fun.

What else did we learn? Well…

  • Remote work doesn’t magically lead to happier teams. RTO or WFH doesn’t matter — the problem is consistent.
  • Meetings are getting worse (despite 20% spending over 10 hours a week in them).
  • Why? Because 1 in 4 knowledge workers aren't prepared to run or participate in them.
  • Tools and software are just throwing apps at the problem.

Everyone agreed, though, that training — changing how people work together — is where workers wish their companies would invest. That’s what we’re working on constantly here at Mural and we encourage you and your team to do the same.

A stack of stylized books with a cover that reads "The real, actual, no BS state of teamwork in 2024." Includes the Mural logo at the bottom left of the cover.

But before you can fix a problem, you have to understand it fully — no bs, no sugarcoating. So are you ready for the hard truths? Get the full report for a glimpse into the real-real of how teams are feeling and learn what can be done about it. 

Download the 2024 Teamwork Research Report

FAQs

No items found.

Onboard your team to Mural and fix misalignment today

What day in your life would you like to relive?
Describe yourself in three words.
What was your dream job as a kid?
If you could be a character in any movie, what character and what movie would it be?
What three items would you bring with you on a deserted island?
What would you title your biography?
A genie grants you one wish; what do you wish for?
What is the best concert or festival you have ever been to?
If you could make an office rule that everyone had to follow for a day, what would it be?
If you invented an ice cream flavor, what ingredients would it have, and what would it be called?
What was your last Netflix (or other streaming platform) binge?
Which two companies would you like to be sponsored by?
What is your favorite breakfast cereal?
If you could add a holiday to the calendar, what would it be and when?
If you could organize a team retreat, where would it be?
Who has influenced your work ethic the most?
If you could swap roles with anyone for one day, who would it be?
If you were a genre of music, what would it be?
What movie has the best soundtrack?
What is your go-to karaoke song?
If you could name a band, what would it be called?
Which band would you join? And what would your role be?
Which artist or musician would you like to meet?
What song brings back childhood memories?
Would you rather spend a weekend in a tropical paradise or a snow haven?
Would you rather sail or 'van life' your way around the world?
Would you rather speak 10 languages or play 10 instruments?
Would you rather only read the end of every book or always forget the story’s ending?
Would you rather have slow internet or always forget your passwords?
Would you rather have every traffic light turn green or always have the best parking spot?
Would you rather be a whale or a lion?
Would you rather get free plane tickets or free accommodations for the rest of your life?
Would you rather be able to control time or fly?
Would you rather always be two hours early or 20 minutes late?
Why do we create art?
Where do you find inspiration?
If you could invite anyone in the world, historical or contemporary, who would be the three guests at your dinner table?
Who is your favorite travel buddy or group?
What is your favorite scene from a movie?
When was the last time you tried something for the first time?
When do you feel the most courageous?
What would you do if you knew you couldn't fail?
What’s your favorite holiday celebration?
What three things would you do if you were invisible?
What piece of advice would you give to your 16-year-old self?
What subject do you wish was taught in every school?
What is your superpower?
What is your favorite travel hack?
What is your proudest achievement?
What is your favorite travel story?
What is your favorite season?
What is your DJ name?
What is the most underrated city you have ever visited?
What is the best piece of feedback you have ever received?
What is the best prank you’ve experienced or planned?
What travel experience, city, or country impacted you the most?
What are the top three items on your bucket list?
What are the three values you treasure the most in a friendship?
Tell us your favorite joke.
Tell us a weird fact you happen to know for no reason.
If your pet could talk, what would they say?
If your life was captured in the “expectation vs. reality” meme, what would the two pictures be?
If you could take one prop from any movie set, what would it be?
If you had to sleep on a beach anywhere in the world, where would it be?
If you could organize a team retreat, where would it be?
If you could live in a different country for a year, which country would you choose?
Do you over or under-decorate for the holidays?
Name five things that make you happy
Do you consider yourself a lemon or a lime? Why?
If you could know the answer to any question, what would that question be?