9 Working with cross-functional partners

Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships.

David, an engineering manager (EM) at Musica, is vital to integrating music recommendation platforms across the company’s products. Despite ambitious goals, his team faces productivity challenges, mainly in cross-functional collaboration. One primary challenge is communication breakdowns, where information and priorities may not be effectively communicated between teams, leading to misunderstandings or delays in project execution. Additionally, differing priorities and objectives among cross-functional teams can result in conflicting agendas, making it challenging to align efforts toward common goals. Moreover, varying work styles and approaches to problem-solving across different functions can create friction and hinder smooth collaboration. The decline in productivity raises a critical question: how can David address and rectify this problem?

9.1 Dealing with common challenges

9.1.1 Competing priorities across different teams

9.1.2 Ill-defined goals

9.1.3 Inefficient coordination and communication

9.1.4 Unclear roles and responsibilities

9.1.5 Conflicts

9.1.6 Geographical constraints

9.1.7 Missing support/underperforming partners

9.1.8 Overwhelming work

9.2 Building a cross-functional team

9.2.1 Clarifying and aligning on goals

9.2.2 Identifying key skills and roles

9.2.3 Establishing a communication framework

9.2.4 Establishing a clear decision-making process

9.2.5 Establishing an open and continuous feedback mechanism

9.2.6 Measuring success

9.3 Collaborating with cross-functional teams

9.3.1 Fostering trust and transparency

9.3.2 Managing conflicts

9.3.3 Providing additional support when needed