Quick Tips to Navigate Cross-Functional Collaboration

The project was ambitious: one of the largest grocery retailers in the U.S. tasked us with envisioning the future of a key product category over the next decade—both online and in-store. This wasn’t a simple branding exercise or a supply chain tweak; it was a comprehensive exploration that required input from nearly every corner of our organization. From the outset, it was clear this couldn’t be approached as a siloed, departmental initiative. To succeed, we needed every team involved—sales, category management, supply chain, brand, and others—to work toward a shared vision. That meant creating an environment where collaboration wasn’t just encouraged but enabled at every step.

Here are some practical strategies and lessons learned. 

Building the Foundation: Intentionality and Clarity

The first lesson I learned: collaboration starts with intentionality. We began by defining the project’s scope with a meticulous level of detail. We used a RACI framework to clearly outline roles and responsibilities, ensuring every person knew not just what they needed to do, but how their work would contribute to the broader effort.

This wasn’t about simply assigning tasks. It was about fostering a sense of ownership. When people see how their contributions fit into the larger puzzle, they feel invested. This sense of purpose was our secret sauce—it aligned 40 contributors across diverse teams, ensuring we moved forward as one.

Practical Steps for a Strong Start:

1. Define clear roles and responsibilities upfront. Don’t let ambiguity undermine progress.
2. Create a detailed project roadmap. Milestones give the team a shared sense of direction.
3. Communicate the “why.” Help people understand the impact of their work.

The Cultural Blueprint: Breaking Down Silos

Even with the right structures in place, collaboration can falter in the face of entrenched silos. Organizational culture plays a pivotal role here. I’ve seen cultures where territoriality and competition smother potential breakthroughs, and I’ve seen cultures where openness and mutual respect create fertile ground for innovation.

At Kellanova, we’ve institutionalized practices that reinforce collaboration as a core value. For example, in our weekly team meetings, we carve out time for cross-functional recognition. It’s a simple practice—shouting out someone from another team who made an impact—but it shifts the narrative. It makes collaboration visible and valued.

Tips to Foster a Collaborative Culture:

• Celebrate cross-functional wins. Recognition reinforces desired behaviors.
• Create open communication channels. Don’t let departmental boundaries dictate who talks to whom.
• Reward collaborative efforts. Build it into performance evaluations to show it matters.

Navigating Remote Realities

Collaboration has always been challenging, but the shift to remote work has added new layers of complexity. Early in the pandemic, I moved from a five-day, in-office routine to working almost entirely remotely. What I learned was that successful collaboration isn’t about physical proximity; it’s about building genuine human connections.

One of the simplest yet most impactful changes we made was starting meetings with personal check-ins. These moments of shared humanity—whether it’s hearing about someone’s newborn, their cross-country move, or their new hobby—build empathy and trust.

Making Remote Collaboration Work: 

1. Start meetings with personal check-ins. Connection fuels collaboration.
2. Establish clear communication norms. Avoid assumptions about availability or preferences.
3. Leverage technology thoughtfully. Use the tools that bridge, not burden, the team.

When Priorities are Misaligned

Even in the best collaborative environments, priorities will clash. Misalignments are inevitable—but they don’t have to derail progress. In my experience, most conflicts arise not because teams have opposing goals, but because they’re focusing on different parts of the same bigger picture.

The key is to uncover the shared objectives that often sit just beneath the surface. By practicing active listening and facilitating transparent conversations, I’ve seen teams go from pulling in opposite directions to working together to solve problems.

Resolving Misaligned Priorities:

• Listen actively and empathetically. Seek first to understand.
• Focus on shared goals. What unites us is often greater than what divides us.
• Encourage collaborative problem-solving. Bring people together to create solutions, not just point out problems.

Conflict as a Catalyst for Innovation

One of the most surprising lessons I’ve learned is that conflict, when handled well, can be a powerful driver of innovation. Instead of avoiding disagreements, I’ve learned to frame them as shared challenges. By creating safe spaces for dialogue and setting clear rules of engagement, we’ve often turned conflict into opportunities for breakthrough thinking.

Constructive Conflict Resolution:

1. Establish ground rules of mutual respect. Ensure all voices are valued.
2. Encourage open dialogue. The best ideas often emerge from tension.
3. Focus on solutions, not blame. Keep the team oriented toward outcomes.

Momentum and Adaptability: Staying the Course

Cross-functional projects are marathons, not sprints. Maintaining momentum requires balancing structure with flexibility. While detailed timelines and regular check-ins provide the guardrails, adaptability ensures we can respond to shifting priorities without losing sight of the end goal.

For example, in our grocery retailer project, we built buffer zones into our timeline to accommodate inevitable delays or shifts in focus. This gave us the freedom to adapt without derailing the larger effort.

Keeping Momentum Alive:

• Design adaptable timelines. Build in room for the unexpected.
• Check in regularly, but not excessively. Avoid turning updates into busywork.
• Celebrate progress along the way. Small wins keep the team energized.

The Ultimate Lesson: Curiosity and Empathy

At its core, collaboration isn’t about eliminating differences—it’s about embracing them. Genuine curiosity and empathy are the cornerstones of any successful partnership. Trust, built incrementally through shared experiences, becomes the foundation for transformative teamwork.

While no two organizations are the same, these principles are universal. By fostering curiosity, practicing empathy, and remaining adaptable, we can turn even the most complex challenges into opportunities for collective success.

Your Collaboration Checklist:

• Stay curious.
• Practice empathy.
• Communicate transparently.
• Remain adaptable.
• Celebrate shared achievements.

When teams align, trust each other, and commit to shared goals, there are few limits to what they can accomplish. And that’s a lesson worth carrying into every project, every team, and every future challenge.