Core literature presented on concepts and evidence in multi-professional teamworking needed to enable competent management of all obstetric emergencies. Key theories and principles are presented with diagrams and worked examples. Key learning points: Effective teamworking is important because poorly functioning teams are associated with preventable harm. National reports recommend that teams that work together should also train together. Multi-professional training locally for all staff has been associated with improved teamwork, improved safety attitudes and, most importantly, improved perinatal outcomes. The most efficient teams state the emergency earlier, use structured communication and closed-loop communication. Effective teams appreciate the different roles and responsibilities of team members and the importance of shared decision making. The use of structured communication tools such as SBAR (situation, background, assessment, recommendations) can aid the transfer of information to the team in an emergency. When communicating with women and their birth partners in an emergency, allocate one health care professional to be the key communicator.