In many organizations referring to a “cross-functional” colleague by their discipline often implies: They are not really on our team, but we have to work with them.
(Those people from quality, finance, HR, regulatory affairs, legal…sheesh, the list goes on…whose team are they really on?)
Better than emphasizing function first, collaborative leaders understand it is best to identify team members as a person who possesses many skills…including talents we need to succeed.
That can sound like this:
- I’m grateful we’ve got Antonio here. We’ll need his strategic mind and expertise in clinical affairs.
- We’re fortunate that Helen could join us for many reasons, including her upstream marketing capabilities.
- I’ve asked Iqbal to join us given his business acumen and the fact that his relationships with our customers are strong.
Do you view your cross-functional colleagues as a box you have to check to get your job done? Or do you see them as people – teammates – who bring unique and essential value?
Reminder: You don’t see the world as it is. You see the world as you are.
