What resources do cross-functional teams need to succeed?

1 A clear and shared vision

One of the most important resources for a cross-functional team is a clear and shared vision of what you want to achieve, why it matters, and how it aligns with the organization's strategy and values. A clear and shared vision can help you create a sense of purpose, direction, and motivation for your team. It can also help you avoid confusion, duplication, and conflict among team members who may have different expectations, assumptions, and agendas. To create a clear and shared vision, you need to involve all team members in defining the team's goal, scope, deliverables, and success criteria. You also need to communicate the vision frequently and consistently, and review and revise it as needed.

2 Effective communication tools and practices

Another essential resource for a cross-functional team is effective communication tools and practices that can facilitate information sharing, feedback, and coordination among team members. Effective communication tools and practices can help you overcome the barriers of distance, time, and culture that may exist in a cross-functional team. They can also help you build trust, rapport, and understanding among team members who may have different backgrounds, styles, and preferences. To use effective communication tools and practices, you need to select the appropriate channels and formats for your communication purpose and audience. You also need to establish clear and consistent communication norms and expectations, such as frequency, timing, tone, and etiquette.

5 Adequate resources and tools

A fifth and final resource for a cross-functional team is adequate resources and tools that can enable your team to perform its tasks efficiently and effectively. Adequate resources and tools can help you optimize the quality and speed of your team's work. They can also help you reduce the stress and frustration that may result from insufficient or inadequate resources and tools. To ensure adequate resources and tools, you need to assess the needs and requirements of your team's work, such as budget, time, equipment, software, or training. You also need to negotiate, secure, and allocate the resources and tools that your team needs, and monitor and adjust them as needed.

6 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?