How to Use Cross-Functional Collaboration Opportunities for Career Growth

Working with people from different departments can be a great learning experience. While their everyday duties may differ from yours, you can still use the partnership to grow your career.

You will understand how different experts approach problems and improve your strategic thinking. Likewise, you can hone skills you already use in your current role.

If you’re considering cross-functional collaboration, here is a detailed guide on making the most out of it.

 

✔️ Build Connections With People From Other Departments First

If you’ve worked in the same area for a long time, chances are you have never interacted with some colleagues, especially if you’re in a large company. Before collaborating, it may help to know some people from the other team.

One way to do this is by attending cross-department meetings and participating in the discussions. Inform others about your role in the company, and don’t be afraid to give your input. After the meeting, you can chat with a few of the staff before they resume their duties and get to know each other.

Connecting with staff from other departments may seem tough when working remotely. But you can still set up informal chats online and get some collaboration opportunities.

When approaching other professionals for collaboration, show genuine curiosity in their work. Ask questions to prove you are familiar with their projects and challenges.

People love to share what they do with interested parties, and such details will help you understand what to expect when working with them.

Building professional connections can help you identify the right people to work with based on your personality and what they offer. It simplifies teamwork because if they enjoy your company, they are likelier to have an open mind even if you don’t have much experience.

 

✔️ Be Careful When Choosing Projects

Before collaborating with any team, ensure its initiatives align with your career goals. If you’re targeting an executive role, you should look for projects to sharpen your leadership skills. On the other hand, if you want to improve problem-solving, target those requiring a lot of brainstorming.

As you assess cross-functional collaboration projects, do the following

• Set personal goals
• Determine what you can learn
• Assess the potential impact of every opportunity

Establishing what you want to gain will help you identify and prioritize projects aligning with your goals. It ensures you set clear and achievable learning milestones based on your career aspirations.

When choosing a collaboration opportunity, consider how its success can affect the company. An ideal project would have a significant positive effect to boost your visibility. For instance, it should help the firm bring in more revenue or improve customer satisfaction.

 

✔️ Leverage Collaboration Opportunities to Learn New Skills

Every team has a unique way of tackling tasks and problems, and through collaboration, you gain new insights. For example, if you’re in marketing, working with the data team will help you improve your analytical skills. If you develop products, collaborating with customer service can help you understand what users want.

If you want to grow your skillset with cross-functional collaboration, do the following:

• Ask questions
• Try out new tools
• Practice what you learn

You may feel intimidated to ask questions when working with a new team. If you are an executive, you may also not want other workers to see you aren’t well-versed in some areas.

However, by asking questions, you can understand processes better and gauge their impact on the company’s goals. You’ll also value the contribution of every employee and allow them to have a greater sense of pride in their work.

If another team uses a software solution you are unfamiliar with, ask for a quick tutorial. Likewise, determine how to utilize it to cut your workload and be more efficient. Learning to use popular tools will make you a versatile executive and simplify managing a diverse team in the future.

The new skills you learn when collaborating won’t be helpful if you don’t practice them. Apply all the knowledge you gain in your projects and pass it on to your team. By doing so, you will build an adaptable team and make your management style stand out.

 

✔️ Build a Good Reputation

No one likes to collaborate with someone who is challenging to work with. Most people also prefer partnering with professionals who respect diverse opinions and points of view.

Build a good reputation if you want to make the most out of cross-collaboration projects. Ensure other employees know you are a respectful professional who won’t undermine their work. They must also view you as an open-minded, reliable, and communicative partner.

Respect people’s opinions even when you can’t fully understand them. Moreover, appreciate teams for their work and be open to embracing how they handle tasks. You’ll be surprised to discover that the methods you consider unorthodox are quite effective.

Another way to build a good reputation is by offering your expertise and help. If an employee from another department needs a hand, step up if you can.

For example, if you have experience in presentations and they are nervous about it, offer some tips. You could also help them handle some tasks if they have urgent deadlines.

Recognizing other people’s work shows you are a team player and can help you make a good name. When a cross-functional project goes well, make sure you appreciate everyone’s input. Thank them for the learning experience, and inform them you’re looking forward to partnering again.

Being known as a great collaborator in your company will make more people trust and want to work with you. Besides, company leaders may notice you if your name often comes up when discussing people who are good at working with different teams.

A good reputation will ultimately open more doors and let you be part of exciting projects.

 

Simplify Career Success With Cross-Functional Collaboration

Cross-functional projects will improve your skills and help you create growth opportunities. They set you apart as a versatile, valuable employee who is easy to work with. Collaborations also improve your visibility, which can be helpful when aiming for a promotion.

With the right strategies, you can use collaborations to get bigger roles and achieve your career goals faster. Likewise, you’ll grow your professional network and gain many transferable skills.