How to Thrive in Cross-Functional Teams
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Cross-functional projects are on the rise – and with good reason. They bring together diverse expertise to solve complex problems and drive better outcomes.
For individuals, they offer a chance to build new skills, collaborate beyond the usual team, and gain visibility across the organisation. But they’re not always smooth sailing. Conflicting priorities, unclear roles, and workload pressures are common obstacles.
To set yourself up for success:
Understand the project’s overall objectives and where you can contribute.
Get involved early and help shape shared goals.
Be open about your workload and priorities so expectations stay realistic.
Communicate regularly – brief but purposeful check-ins and updates help teams stay on track and prevent issues from snowballing.
If tensions arise, remain calm, avoid assumptions, and focus on solutions.
Foster trust by being open-minded and collaborative.
Strong leadership is key. Project leads should create an environment where team members feel safe to speak up, raise concerns, and share wins.
When done well, cross-functional projects are not only beneficial to the business, they can also give your career a meaningful boost.
Find out more in this article by The Straits Times, where we shared our views on how to succeed in cross-functional projects.
Connect with us to learn more about agile, cross-functional and winning teams.
