Present day workplace dynamics call for cross-functional and cross-generational team formations. Nowadays, you find people coming together from different departments forming a unit to undertake certain projects or assignments which would be unheard of in the past. We also have individuals from different generational cohorts (millennials, Gen X and Z) sharing the same work stations despite their differences in perceptions, norms and opinions.
A cross-functional team discussing a task during an executive training by Adept Advisory
A cross-functional team is a group or unit of individuals drawn from different professions, departments or functions that work together towards achieving a common goal. Just like how nature has flairs and fauna, there is beauty in individual and departmental diversity when it comes to team foundations.
Research shows that tapping into the different strengths and capabilities of departments in a collective manner helps address organizational silos which leads to a positive seismic shift in communication culture. This is what transformed Nissan and migrated it from the poor performance zone.
Departmental and generational stereotypes deter collective accountability and positive team performance. Each department has a lot to learn from each other. Departments should be complimentary and not be competitive or predatory to each other.
Each generation also has lessons to each other. The millennials and Gen Z have a lot to teach on digital transformation while the Gen X hold immense wisdom on matters resilience and facing adversity. The learning never stops.
Open discussion session during a cross-functional team training
We encourage you to smell the coffee and ‘ roll the dice’ towards interdependent and collective departmental collaborations.
Let’s make it happen.
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