What is the impact on product development when cross-functional teams aren't effective?

Alison's Contribution:

Interesting challenge you have!

Team behaviour and communication are critical to "get right" so that cross functional teams can collaborate and make progress forward. I've heard at many clients - that either they don't speak the same language or they never listen to me.

How to improve Team Behaviour and Communication - well obviously it is accomplished by developing a personal awareness of one's individual strengths and weakness and at the same time, learning to appreciate other's attributes. There are tons of books and techniques (happy to recommend a couple). I take a pragmatic approach...

There are lots of techniques to use, and most rely on developing a set of clear rules to help you work together... sometimes it's the small things which make the biggest impact. Here are some suggestions to get you started - they work regardless of cultural background, job function, technical expertise or education.

1. Recognise that everyone's contribution has a positive intention, no matter how much you may disagree. Let it wash over you, show respect for their contribution.
2. Eliminate words which create opposing camps - like "but" which instantly creates "two camps" rather than one team.
3. Take time to feedback praise and provide constructive criticism - 2 parts praise to one part personal constructive criticism. What I mean by this is to filling in the blanks in the following: "When you do/say XXXX, it makes me think ZZZ and I start BBB." Here's an example: "I appreciated your support for my idea - it made me realise I wasn't a lone voice in the wilderness. Thank you." "When you jump in before I'm finished speaking, it makes me lose the thread of the point I want to make and I can't focus on what you are saying."
4. Use a facilitator at meetings - eg an impartial party who can keep the momentum going, watch the time and coach as required.
5. Get everyone to do the Belbin Team analysis so they understand their strengths.
6. Use the deBono Thinking Hats technique to build a repertoire of ways to express points and to focus discussions.
7. On the communication front, I recommend NLP which will will help you analyse how you and others process input and how to get your point across to people regardless of the mental models.

Well that's probably enough for you to pick up one idea and try it for real. There are lot's of other tools I can recommend. Come back for more!

Hope this helps you with your challenge.

All the best

Alison
posted 9 days ago