By Chally Kacelnik
Cross-functional collaboration is essential for solving problems that span different areas of an organisation. Too often, teams focus solely on their own tasks, leading to missed opportunities and inefficiencies. Leaders play a critical role in bringing people together to work across boundaries, drawing on insights from different vantage points to find better solutions.
When teams work in isolation, they only see part of the picture. For example, consider a leader trying to improve a process that involves multiple teams, such as onboarding a new client. Without input from everyone involved – sales, operations, customer service, and finance – it’s impossible to understand how the process actually functions. One team may believe it’s running smoothly, but another might be dealing with delays or rework caused earlier in the chain.
Process mapping is a practical way to tackle this. By bringing together representatives from all relevant teams to map out each step, you can gain a true view of what’s working and what isn’t. This collaborative approach often reveals inefficiencies or gaps that wouldn’t have been visible from a single team’s perspective. Just as importantly, it encourages a shared sense of ownership in improving the process.
However, collaboration doesn’t always happen naturally. Leaders need to provide the structure and support to make it work. That means creating opportunities for teams to share their insights, clarifying responsibilities, and removing barriers like unclear priorities or poor communication. It also means valuing the time and effort it takes to collaborate effectively.
Cross-functional collaboration brings the benefit of different viewpoints. Teams often approach problems with unique expertise and perspectives. By combining these insights, leaders can guide their organisation toward solutions that are more innovative and effective than any one team could achieve alone.
At LKS Quaero, we help organisations to get work done better. For more information, visit us at lksquaero.com or follow us on LinkedIn and Facebook.
