Cross-functional project teams (or special task forces) are a powerful way to accelerate strategy execution. The main question that our Turbocharge members ask me, is how to encourage people’s involvement on top of business as usual.
When Sarah (name changed) launched a cross-functional project, she quickly realized she had a problem. Despite the importance of the initiative, getting people from different departments involved was like pulling teeth. Everyone was already swamped with their day-to-day tasks, and the project felt like just one more thing on their overflowing plates.
Meetings were postponed, deadlines slipped, and frustration mounted. The issue was partly lack of commitment; and partly that BAU always took priority. Without changing something, the project was doomed to stall indefinitely.
Getting things back on track
To fast-track the project, Sarah and I discussed changing her approach. She worked on re-framing the priority of this initiative and getting buy-in from leadership to free up the necessary resources. She also made it easier for people to participate. Slowly, the team started to gel, and they made progress.
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3 Tips to Avoid Overloading Your Team with Strategic Projects:
- Align the Project with the Strategic Priorities: Show how the project directly contributes to the organization’s major strategies and goals. People are more likely to prioritize it if they see its value, and if it attracts higher visibility. Managers should support their team by regularly re-prioritizing against strategic priorities to avoid work overload. This may mean stopping some BAU work.
- Get Leadership Support: Ensure all senior leaders advocate for the project, and help free up time and resources for those involved.
- Simplify The Commitment: Break the project into manageable parts so that team members can contribute without feeling overwhelmed by the additional workload. This type of structured approach is really important to make the project work feasible.
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Getting people involved in cross-functional projects when they’re juggling their daily tasks is a challenge, but it becomes easier when tasks are approached in a structured, organised manner.
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Quote of the week
“Nothing is particularly hard if you divide it into small jobs.”
Henry Ford
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____________ Keep turbocharging with a culture-friendly approach 😊🌱📈 |
PS Turbocharge your strategic influence 😊🌱📈
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About Lisa Carlin
Lisa Carlin is a Strategy Execution Specialist. She works with business leaders to plan and execute their strategies in tough environments. Her clients love having her expertise and guidance to navigate their workplace culture and use AI to achieve success.
Lisa created The Turbochargers Hub, so leaders can master the art of strategic influence and generate momentum for organizational change.
Lisa is author of the globally acclaimed newsletter, Turbocharge Weekly, read by 8,000 business leaders.
Lisa’s career includes roles at McKinsey and Accenture, then running her own business since 1999. Over this time she has delivered over 50 implementations with a 96% success rate.