Four Lessons About Teamwork That Squid Game Teaches Us
Netflix’s hit show ‘Squid Game’ captured the world’s attention. The series is one of the best streaming platform’s biggest successes grossing $1 billion. The fictitious survival series follows debt-ridden contestants competing in an array of lethal kids’ games for whopping prize money of £28 million. In this article, we will discuss lessons about teamwork that Squid Game can teach us. Let’s read on.

What can we learn from the game?
Squid Game is not only an interesting Netflix series. It is also an excellent insight into the core elements required for successful teamwork.
Aside from portraying violent, gruesome, and even lethal children’s games, Squid Game emphasizes the necessity of soft skills, including teamwork, communication, and creative thinking in high-pressure (albeit fatal) situations.
With this in mind, we’ve compiled a list of four key lessons about teamwork that Squid Game can teach us.
The Game Rules – Red Light, Green Light.
The original children’s game involved one player facing the wall while the others attempted to cross the finish line. The other players must move towards the finish line when the person facing the wall screams “green light.” However, if this player shouts “red light,” the others must come to a halt and remain motionless. Elimination takes place when any person moves after the player calls the red light.

Red Light, Green Light Has Important Lessons to Teach.
Listen attentively to instructions if you want to succeed.
If you aren’t paying attention to the red light, green light, you may end up moving at the incorrect time. If you move after the player shouts “red light,” you will be eliminated or, in some situations (such as Squid Game), you will die.
In the workplace
Listening abilities influence the way a corporation interacts with clients and other businesses. An entire project could fail if one team member fails to follow directions. Furthermore, a firm can fail if it does not listen to its clients. It is crucial to pay attention to spoken instructions and deadlines to build trust, creating a collaborative environment that generates positive results.
Patience is essential.
Red Light, Green Light also teaches us the value of patience in a demanding and time-constrained environment. Trying to win too early in the game can cost you.
The contestants that strive to race to the finish line are the first to fall in the Squid Game. Those that take their time, on the other hand, have a better chance of survival.
The Game – Tug of War
The real-life children’s game of tug of war involves two teams pulling the rope back and forth to see which team can beat the other and knock the other team down. In the Squid Game, however, the losing team falls to their death from an elevated platform.

Learn the following important lessons:
Diversity in the workplace helps solve problems.
Many of the players on the Netflix show form their teams based on size and strength, believing that this will give them an advantage in the competition. Oh Il-nam (a feeble, elderly participant) is the final contestant chosen by the other contestants. In the following scene, Oh Il-nam’s team goes against a physically stronger opponent, and panic quickly sets in.
Despite the apparent differences in weight and strength, Oh Il-nam takes advantage of his experience and expertise to devise a game plan for his team to follow. With this strategy in place, oh Il-nam’s squad can overcome the odds, outsmart their opponents, and win the tug of war game.
“Having a varied workforce with employees from various backgrounds enables for a broader range of perspectives to be merged while brainstorming, problem-solving, and developing new business ideas in the workplace.” Mike McCoy, Maximillion’s Corporate Team Building Manager.
It is critical to think creatively and communicate effectively.
The physically weaker team used communication and imaginative thinking to outsmart and overcome their opponents to win the tug of war game on the show. When one technique failed, they effectively communicated and modified their offensive plan to secure victory.
This lesson can be used in the workplace as well. Having a “flexible plan” and agreeing to “listen, share ideas, and respect” your team members will build trust and improve workplace communication. A common goal creates energy which is crucial in business, as well as tug-of-war.
Overall, the Squid Game on Netflix may teach us a lot about how to employ teamwork to win in high-pressure and difficult situations. In the face of stress and opposition:
- Red Light, Green Light urges us to listen and be patient.
- Tug of war teaches us the value of diversity and utilizing each team member’s unique skill set.
- Furthermore, the importance of communication and flexible, creative thinking in stressful situations.