Keep in mind that the responsibilities of cross-functional teams are often in addition to your team members’ typical job responsibilities. It’s crucial that every one of your team members understands the importance of the team project. You can prevent these frustrating situations by defining crystal-clear goals and expectations, not only for the team but on an individual level as well. We’ve all heard it before: “I thought he was going to do that,” “I couldn’t start until she did this,” and so on. When working with a cross-functional team, conflict and misunderstandings that result from failing to establish accountability early on are very common. ![]() These types of applications will help you and the team organize the work to be done, assign tasks and deadlines, and allow team members to see the progress being made on the project. Microsoft Planner and Asana are two examples, but there are many other options available. ![]() Depending on the goals and needs of your team, you may want to consider using some type of project-management software. To manage a team of this diversity and complexity, you’ll need a system for organizing deadlines, files, notes, data, research, and whatever else your team members will be bringing to the project. Find out how to become a better communicator today. Prioritize communication in your organization. Whenever possible, it’s best to meet face-to-face, but if regular in-person meetings are unrealistic, there are plenty of online tools you can use to provide a steady, dependable line of communication between you and all of your team members. ![]() Clear communication is the first and most crucial component of your team’s success and should not be taken lightly. Without an organized communication strategy, your cross-functional team leadership doesn’t stand a chance. Learn how to achieve success with these 9 key leadership characteristics to managing a cross-functional team: 9 Key Leadership Characteristics for Cross-Functional Teams 1) Excellent Communication Having strong leadership in a diverse team can create a strong foundation and be a stepping stone for continued success. What Is Cross-Functional Team Leadership?Ĭross-functional team leadership is the action of leading a diversified team that has different, but complementary skill sets. However, if handled correctly, your cross-functional team will reach new heights, break through long-standing barriers, work together to solve an array of organizational challenges, and accomplish goals that would otherwise be out of reach. As a team leader, you’ll very quickly find that managing this type of team comes with complexities rarely found in a traditional team-management setting. 3-10.Organized, transparent, and flexible management is of the utmost importance when it comes to the success of a cross-functional team. (1996), "Enhancing the effectiveness of cross‐functional teams", Leadership & Organization Development Journal, Vol. Examines those factors that contributed to the success of the teams in this study and offers recommendations for working with cross‐functional teams. While it is apparent that organizational leaders, are enthusiastically embracing team efforts, calls for additional analysis to explore the unique challenges of cross‐functional teams so organizations can consistently benefit from their efforts. Over one‐half of the participants viewed their cross‐functional team’s work as unsuccessful, and these same individuals felt less optimistic about cross‐functional teams than they had before participating in one. While the benefits are many, this study highlights the challenges. ![]() Bringing a cross‐functional perspective to organizational problems help build understanding, problem‐solving capabilities, co‐ordination, communication and, ultimately, improved quality and productivity. Organizations are increasingly using cross‐ functional teams to address broad‐scale organizational problems, and the potential of such teams is undeniable.
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