# Christopher Jackson
**Source**: https://grandchallenges.unsw.edu.au/article/mavericks-christopher-jackson
**Parent**: https://grandchallenges.unsw.edu.au/whatcanwelearn
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25.08.2020
# Christopher Jackson | Mavericks: the champions of isolation
> We should question the teamwork research juggernaut as being always suitable for all people. Putting everyone into teams can turn off your most talented people.
>
> Christopher Jackson
Greta Thunberg, Steve Jobs, Donald Trump and Gina Rinehart all have one thing in common, they like to work alone. Mavericks are eccentric, unconventional, risk-taking, and disruptive – whilst also success oriented and goal directed. They are comfortable making decisions and persevering in actions which go against the status quo. Conventional wisdom is clear – teamwork, collaboration and diversity lead to better learning and decision making, but what happens when teamwork doesn’t make the dreamwork? Are some individuals better left alone?\
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Christopher Jackson is a Professor of Business Psychology at the UNSW Business School. His main area of research is on personality and learning – from mavericks in the workplace to survivalists – and he has published extensively on this and many other areas. Jackson is passionate about making research relevant to the wider business community and beyond.\
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A UNSW Centre for Ideas and [Grand Challenges](https://www.grandchallenges.unsw.edu.au/ "Grand Challenges") program collaboration.
Illustrations designed by [Juune Lee](https://juunelee.com/ "Juune Lee Webpage"). Filmed and edited by [Paper Moose](https://papermoose.com/ "Paper Moose Website"). Footage filmed at the [EPICentre](https://artdesign.unsw.edu.au/research/epicentre-expanded-perception-interaction-centre "EPICentre Website"), a UNSW research centre located at the Art & Design campus.
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Christopher Jackson Headshot.
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Christopher Jackson Illustration. Designed by Juune Lee.
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Christopher Jackson Headshot.
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