How can you create effective cross-team protocols and standards?

1 Define the purpose and scope

The first step to create effective cross-team protocols and standards is to define the purpose and scope of the collaboration. Why are you collaborating? What are the goals and objectives? Who are the stakeholders and decision-makers? What are the roles and responsibilities of each team? How will you measure success and progress? By answering these questions, you can establish a clear vision and direction for the collaboration, as well as set boundaries and expectations for each team.

2 Choose the right tools and platforms

The second step to create effective cross-team protocols and standards is to choose the right tools and platforms for the collaboration. Depending on the nature and complexity of the collaboration, you may need different tools and platforms for communication, documentation, project management, file sharing, feedback, and quality assurance. For example, you may use Slack for instant messaging, Google Docs for collaborative editing, Trello for task tracking, Dropbox for file storage, Zoom for video conferencing, and GitHub for code review. You should choose the tools and platforms that best suit your needs and preferences, as well as ensure compatibility and accessibility across teams.

3 Establish communication norms and etiquette

The third step to create effective cross-team protocols and standards is to establish communication norms and etiquette. Communication is the key to successful cross-team collaboration, but it can also be the source of many challenges and conflicts. To avoid misunderstandings, delays, and disruptions, you should agree on communication norms and etiquette, such as: how often and when to communicate, what channels and modes to use, what tone and style to adopt, what information and updates to share, how to handle urgent and non-urgent requests, how to give and receive feedback, and how to resolve issues and disputes.

4 Document and share protocols and standards

The fourth step to create effective cross-team protocols and standards is to document and share them with all the teams involved. Documentation is crucial for ensuring consistency, transparency, and accountability across teams. You should document and share the protocols and standards that you have agreed on, such as: the purpose and scope of the collaboration, the tools and platforms to use, the communication norms and etiquette to follow, the roles and responsibilities of each team, the milestones and deliverables of the project, the quality criteria and standards to meet, and the feedback and evaluation methods to apply.

5 Monitor and adapt protocols and standards

The fifth step to create effective cross-team protocols and standards is to monitor and adapt them as the collaboration progresses. Protocols and standards are not static or rigid; they are dynamic and flexible. You should monitor and evaluate how well they are working, as well as solicit feedback and suggestions from all the teams involved. You should also be open and willing to adapt and modify them as needed, based on changing circumstances, challenges, opportunities, and learnings. By doing so, you can ensure that your protocols and standards are relevant, effective, and beneficial for all the teams.

6 Celebrate and acknowledge achievements

The sixth and final step to create effective cross-team protocols and standards is to celebrate and acknowledge the achievements of the collaboration. Collaboration is not easy; it requires hard work, dedication, and compromise from all the teams. Therefore, it is important to recognize and appreciate the efforts and contributions of each team, as well as celebrate the outcomes and impacts of the collaboration. You can do this by: sharing positive feedback and testimonials, highlighting best practices and lessons learned, rewarding outstanding performance and innovation, and creating a culture of gratitude and recognition.