The importance of team flow in the practice of professional organizations

Being innovative, creative, and productive as an organization requires effective collaboration in small teams. Flow is a state we experience when we are fully absorbed in an activity, accompanied by a motivated and energetic focus. In a moment of team flow, we experience this together while performing mutually dependent tasks for the team's interest. Research on flow has shown that flow leads to better performance, more job satisfaction, fulfillment, happiness, creativity, and meaning. If the right conditions are created to put everyone's strengths into flow, members of teams and organizations could together express their maximum potential. Therefore, wouldn't it be great if, during team collaboration, people experienced flow together?

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Blog

The importance of team flow in the practice of professional organizations

Being innovative, creative, and productive as an organization requires effective collaboration in small teams. Flow is a state we experience when we are fully absorbed in an activity, accompanied by a motivated and energetic focus. In a moment of team flow, we experience this together while performing mutually dependent tasks for the team's interest. Research on flow has shown that flow leads to better performance, more job satisfaction, fulfillment, happiness, creativity, and meaning. If the right conditions are created to put everyone's strengths into flow, members of teams and organizations could together express their maximum potential. Therefore, wouldn't it be great if, during team collaboration, people experienced flow together?

Being innovative, creative, and productive as an organization requires effective collaboration in small teams. Flow is a state we experience when we are fully absorbed in an activity, accompanied by a motivated and energetic focus. In a moment of team flow, we experience this together while performing mutually dependent tasks for the team’s interest. Research on flow has shown that flow leads to better performance, more job satisfaction, fulfillment, happiness, creativity, and meaning. If the right conditions are created to put everyone’s strengths into flow, members of teams and organizations could together express their maximum potential. Therefore, wouldn’t it be great if, during team collaboration, people experienced flow together?

Team flow is thus the moment when all team members experience flow together during the performance of their interdependent personal tasks, resulting from optimized team dynamics. This optimal team dynamic is formed by 11 elements that can be distinguished into seven conditions and four experience characteristics. In the team flow animation below, the genesis process of team flow is made clear.

Team flow thus arises from the awakening of a collective ambition that then crystallizes into concrete, challenging shared goals with task divisions where everyone is at their strongest. This optimal form of cooperation proceeds effortlessly and energetically, and one enjoys moments of team flow long after.

Based on scientific research, we have a team development program to guide teams toward an optimal climate of cooperation. In practice, this program has already proven itself with many teams. It is simple, positive, and to the point, and that is why it works.

As a team coach, do you want to independently use the Team Flow Model and the methodologies and tools in the Team Flow Trajectory within your own organization or that of your clients? Then, follow one of our courses or trainings from the Team Flow Academy!

Want to read more? Here are some publications you might like.

Jef van den Hout
1 Mar 2016
Jef van den Hout
1 Mar 2016
flow, team flow monitor, teamflow

The Application of Team Flow Theory

Springer published the book “Flow Experience: Empirical Research and Applications” in January 2016. In it, we wrote the chapter, “The Application of Team Flow Theory.”
Jef van den Hout
1 Sep 2019
Jef van den Hout
1 Sep 2019
No Category

Team Flow: The psychology of optimal collaboration

This book presents a series of studies that conceptualize, test and monitor team flow experiences in professional organizations to perform autonomously and successfully. It analyzes the processes by which team flow is created through case studies, and introduces a protocol for encouraging team flow in professional organizations.
Jef van den Hout
28 Feb 2017
Jef van den Hout
28 Feb 2017
impediments, teamflow

Overcoming Impediments to Team Flow

In 2017, Jef van den Hout, Orin Davis, Josette Gevers and Mathieu Weggeman published the article “Overcoming Impediments to Team Flow” in the scholarly journal Challenging Organizations and Society.

Wondering how we can increase the likelihood of team flow within your organization?

Let’s schedule an intake session to see how we can help you move forward.

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