What do you do if your team lacks collaboration and cross-functional teamwork for driving innovation?

The first step is to figure out why your team isn’t clicking. Maybe they need to get to know each other better or are confused about what they should do. Here’s 3 steps to get started: 1) Talk to them - ask how they’re feeling and what’s making teamwork tough. 2) Look for clues - pay attention to how they work together. Are they talking to each other? Are things spinning at a certain point? 3) Ask questions - find out if they understand their roles and the big picture. Often, more communication is needed.

3 Ways to Find the Root Causes of Poor Teamwork (1) Hidden factors like personality conflicts or past teamwork failures can sabotage collaboration. Get insights from those your team impacts – other teams or clients may see bottlenecks more clearly than those stuck within the problem. (2) Analyze your team's work output. Are projects often delayed or quality inconsistent? Dig into communication patterns – who's missing from key emails or meetings? These metrics can expose fractures in teamwork that need fixing. (3) Team assessments can reveal specific areas where collaboration breaks down. Visualize your work processes – mapping how tasks flow across the team can expose unexpected roadblocks and bottlenecks hindering teamwork.

In my experience observation of people and behaviours is more likely to be accurate than what they say they do in a survey. Actions speak louder then words

I’ve learnt when building a collaborative culture, there’s a vital step even before determining the root cause: More clearly define what collaboration actually means. Collaboration is not simply a synonym for teamwork. They mean different things, yet all too often the concepts are used interchangeably. Gaining the power of teamwork while losing the impact of true collaboration. What is the difference? Rather than the act of collaboration, think about the people involved. What do collaborators do? In times of conflict they are often known for collaborating with the enemy. Which means true collaboration involves crossing traditional boundaries. This critical learning will help guide your team forward… collaboratively.

To foster collaboration and cross-functional teamwork for innovation, communicate its importance clearly. Encourage open dialogue and create opportunities for interdepartmental collaboration. Utilize collaborative tools and provide training on teamwork and creativity. Recognize and reward collaborative efforts. Lead by example by participating in cross-functional collaborations.

Beyond the Mission Statement: Crafting a Team Vision that Resonates (1) Focus on the "Feeling": Capture the essence of the vision by emphasizing how it will evoke positive emotions and inspire a sense of purpose beyond routine tasks. (2) Make it Iterative: Iterate the vision with team input, focusing on implementation over perfection. Expect evolution as you navigate obstacles and discover deeper motivations. (3) Visuals Matter: Utilize visuals like graphics or team mottos to reinforce the vision. Injecting humor with inside jokes related to the vision can aid in memorability and engagement.

Start an innovative project beyond the regular BAU project, swap the responsibilities to team members, brainstorm,discuss inputs and feedback daily, monitor closely and let each member be accountable for the success of the project

Start an innovative project beyond the regular BAU project, swap the responsibilities to team members, brainstorm,discuss inputs and feedback daily, monitor closely and let each member be accountable for the success of the project

Building collaborative culture takes time and effort. You have to consistently work with the team to build this Try to understand their pain points and provide the required support in alignment with or policies. Conduct regular team meetings and set the expectations with shared goals and vision show the bigger picture on what can be achieved Try organising team building activities and conduct cross functional/ technological trainings

Collaboration Isn't Just Talk: Model the Team Model the collaboration you want to see. How you handle disagreements, setbacks, and even routine emails sets the tone for your team. Don't pretend to be perfect - owning mistakes collaboratively builds trust. Shine the spotlight on your team's successes, not just hitting the numbers. Praise the teammate who went the extra mile, or who tried a new collaborative approach. Make that praise specific – it reinforces the actions you value. Remember, people are different. Some thrive on public recognition, others prefer a quiet word of thanks. Meet your team where they are and model the collaborative behaviors just one step ahead of where they are now. Small, consistent shifts create lasting change

Ensuring that you espouse collaborative behaviour is one of the most important things about leading a communicative team! I find that asking how they would contribute to a task or product to achieve the overall intent allows the innovation to flow. Being open and honest with feedback, both with yourself and the team will show that you are aware of your own areas for development as well as able to help them develop.

At my work place, I was the last intern to start. I was nice to everyone and greeted everyone with a smile, but there was a bit of friction between myself and my team members for a while till they eventually loosened up. I believe it's important to not force relationships or connections amongst team members (and people in general). Give it time, and if they are all reasonable people, everyone will come around. They can and will all work together, but when a connection is built, an environment for collaboration and innovation is created. In summary, give it time. Everyone will come around eventually, especially if it is defined and common knowledge that this is a team and we all need to work together, verbally or subconsciously.