At Milestone Systems (Milestone), we have been working with cross-organisational teams as a way to stimulate innovation for several years, says Simon Thule Viggers and Saeedeh Kristensen.
We have seen some great successes, but there have also been some complications and issues that we were not expecting. In this article, we share some of the valuable lessons from our experience with managing cross-organisational teams.
Keep it small
Cross-organisational teams play a crucial role in helping organisations swiftly adapt to changes, explore new opportunities, and offer internal career growth. However, they can often face challenges. A 2015 survey by Harvard Business Review found that 75 percent of cross-organisational teams are dysfunctional.
This may be because they are too big. Most cross-organisational teams are groups of people with different areas of expertise working towards a common goal. Such teams can include people from all levels of the organisation and there is often a lack of clarity regarding the team’s hierarchy.
Maintain long-term relationships with regular teams
At Milestone, we have moved away from organising teams purely based on their functions to a project-based approach. Temporary teams co-exist within the company. This allows people to maintain long-term relationships with their regular teams to ensure continuity with individual performance, salary, and career development. It is important for people to continue reporting to their regular managers even when they are fully dedicated to a project that has its own designated project lead.
Joining a cross-organisational team can be fraught with issues for the individuals involved. These concerns can rub off on members of their regular teams, even when everyone knows that it is a temporary situation. One major challenge is the confusion surrounding a person’s role within the temporary team and how it will affect their career. Questions arise, like who will take on their regular responsibilities while they are away and whether their regular job still be there when they return.
Strengthen people skills
People skills are critical to the success of cross-organisational teams. They help people express ideas, receive feedback, and reach agreement. In temporary settings, people must engage with others quickly and in a constructive manner. People skills also help the team to share their knowledge with the wider organisation.
Drive team diversity, deliberately select people who think differently
Avoid allocating the same people to cross-organisational teams. Today’s business problems are complex, and things change quickly. Teams of people with similar backgrounds and education are likely to have similar ideas and tend to get stuck in the same place. In contrast, diverse teams are more likely to produce fresh ideas.
Establish a single-growth culture
Cross-organisational teams often possess a culture of autonomy, flexibility, and horizontal leadership. This contrasts with the typical hierarchical culture found in companies that emphasise control and discipline. Having two opposing cultures can lead to friction between the teams and the company.
Reinforce psychological safety and accountability
We found that the secret to making cross-organisational teams work for people is reinforcing psychological safety and accountability. In a psychologically safe environment, individuals feel comfortable expressing their opinions without fear of retribution. To avoid an atmosphere of tension, characterised by an “us versus them” mentality, leaders should build a work environment which minimises interpersonal fear. Leaders must destigmatise failure and instead foster a learning organisation that considers intelligent failures as valuable opportunities for growth. However, it is important to note that high psychological safety may not be effective if it leads to consensus decision-making and lack of ownership.
To make cross-organisational teams successful, leaders must avoid the trap of one-size-fits-all thinking. It is essential for leaders to adapt their styles to cater to the diverse needs of individuals within the cross-organisational teams. This calls for a humble approach. Actively listen to different ideas and viewpoints and ensure that everyone in the team feels valued and heard.
While divergent thinking is important, it is necessary to recognise when there are enough ideas on the table so the group can converge on a decision. Once a decision is made, leaders must be confident to enroll the team and the company behind it.
We hope the key learnings will help you avoid some of the challenges and organisational pitfalls associated with cross-organisational teams. With the right approach, cross-organisational teams can be a powerful tool for companies to navigate the complexities of today’s business environment.
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By Simon Thule Viggers, Chief People & Culture Officer, Milestone Systems and Saeedeh Kristensen, Industrial PhD at Milestone Systems/Aarhus University.
Amelia Brand is the Editor for HRreview, and host of the HR in Review podcast series. With a Master’s degree in Legal and Political Theory, her particular interests within HR include employment law, DE&I, and wellbeing within the workplace. Prior to working with HRreview, Amelia was Sub-Editor of a magazine, and Editor of the Environmental Justice Project at University College London, writing and overseeing articles into UCL’s weekly newsletter. Her previous academic work has focused on philosophy, politics and law, with a special focus on how artificial intelligence will feature in the future.
