Why strong cross-functional partnerships matter

Nobody would argue that teamwork is essential for great performance. Collaborative workplaces are more productive, more joyful, produce better results, and have less turnover. But as organizations grow, they become fragmented. Our affinity to our own team becomes stronger as functional or divisional silos get larger. Our natural orientation is vertical within our own teams or departments. Yet, if you really think about how work actually gets done, how products get made, how customers get served, how sales get closed, or how difficult problems get solved, it's really horizontal. The most important things our companies do happen at what I call the seams of the organization. The places where one or more teams or regions or functions come together and synchronize their efforts toward a shared outcome. And as you probably know, it's a lot harder to do than it sounds. By stitching the seams of an organization, makes it stronger, more competitive, and more enjoyable to work in. In fact, in the 15-year longitudinal research from my book, To Be Honest: Lead with the Power of Truth, Justice and Purpose, we interviewed more than 3,200 leaders. And we found that if your cross-functional team collaborations are strong, you are six times more likely to have people be honest, fair, and serve a greater good. But if they're weak, you're six times more likely to have people lie, cheat, and serve their own interests first. So there's a lot at stake when investing in your cross-functional relationships. There are also benefits to effective collaborations across teams. Let me just highlight a few of them. One, better problem-solving and decision-making: When you bring diverse viewpoints together, you approach problem-solving from a more comprehensive and holistic standpoint. By involving functions outside your own in decisions, you benefit from a wide range of expertise. Not only do you get better decisions, but fewer blind spots, reducing the risk of costly mistakes. Two, greater satisfaction and less stress: People tend to feel more engaged when they have opportunities for cross-functional collaboration. It promotes a sense of belonging and teamwork, which makes people happier and more satisfied in their jobs. Done well, this collaboration can reduce unhealthy conflicts and pain points. And who doesn't want fewer of those headaches? Three, breaking down silos: Silos can hinder communication, block the flow of information, and create barriers and even rivalries between departments. Collaborating across functions breaks down these silos and nurtures a more unified culture. Four, a strong focus on customers: Perhaps the one group that benefits the most from better cross-team collaboration are your customers. You and your partners can better understand customer needs and chokepoints. This creates even better products and services while avoiding unnecessary hassles that just frustrate your customers. And if you're both not in direct contact with your customers, you surely connect with someone who does. So I want you to think about the three to five teams with whom your team regularly collaborates. Now, if you're doing this work as a team, decide together which cross-functional relationships you want to focus on for the rest of the course. And if you're already doing this course with a cross-functional partner, good for you! Complete this analysis and compare your answers. Using the course workbook, consider those cross-functional teams that rely on you or that you rely on, or both. What ways would you like to see these relationships grow stronger? And if they did, what are the benefits to you, both teams, and the organization? I have an important note for you here. The work you, your team, and your cross-functional partner do in the workbook is foundational to this course. The real learning happens from the content you create together. My role is to guide you through these conversations to lead you to the strongest possible collaboration. When my clients go through this, it is a transformational journey for their partnership. Strengthening any relationship starts by being honest about the places where it needs to improve, and specifically about what you could do to improve it.