How do you sell your cross-functional team to customers and partners?

1 Understand their needs and expectations

Before you pitch your cross-functional team to customers and partners, you need to do some research and analysis. What are their goals, pain points, and preferences? How do they measure success and satisfaction? What are their current or potential challenges or risks? How can your cross-functional team help them solve their problems or achieve their outcomes? By understanding their needs and expectations, you can tailor your message and offer to match their interests and priorities.

2 Highlight your strengths and differentiators

Next, you need to showcase your cross-functional team's strengths and differentiators. What are the unique skills, expertise, and perspectives that your team members bring to the table? How do they complement each other and create synergy? How do they leverage their diversity and flexibility to adapt to changing situations and requirements? How do they use their cross-functional knowledge and experience to deliver value-added solutions and services? By highlighting your strengths and differentiators, you can demonstrate your credibility and competence.

3 Address their concerns and objections

Then, you need to address their concerns and objections. What are the potential drawbacks or risks of working with a cross-functional team? How do you mitigate them or overcome them? How do you ensure clear and consistent communication, coordination, and alignment among your team members and with your customers and partners? How do you manage conflicts, disagreements, or misunderstandings that may arise from different backgrounds, opinions, or expectations? How do you handle feedback, changes, or issues that may occur during the project or relationship? By addressing their concerns and objections, you can show your empathy and professionalism.

4 Provide evidence and testimonials

Finally, you need to provide evidence and testimonials. What are the results and outcomes that your cross-functional team has achieved or can achieve for your customers and partners? How do you measure and report them? How do you use data, facts, and figures to back up your claims and promises? How do you collect and share positive feedback, reviews, or referrals from your previous or current customers and partners? How do you showcase your success stories, case studies, or portfolio? By providing evidence and testimonials, you can prove your value and impact.

Selling your cross-functional team to customers and partners is not a one-time event, but an ongoing process. You need to communicate regularly, clearly, and effectively with your external stakeholders, and build trust, rapport, and loyalty with them. By following these tips, you can increase your chances of winning their confidence and business.

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?