Day 17: Ask another team if you can help them with a feature or fix
Silos kill productivity and innovation - but most people wait for formal cross-team initiatives instead of creating collaboration opportunities themselves!
๐๐๐ธ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ผ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐บ ๐ถ๐ณ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ป ๐ต๐ฒ๐น๐ฝ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐บ ๐๐ถ๐๐ต ๐ฎ ๐ณ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ณ๐ถ๐
that intersects with your work or expertise.
This isnโt just about being helpful. Itโs about building influence, relationships, and org-wide impact.
๐จ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฝ๐: "I've been working with [system/process/area] and noticed you're dealing with [specific issue/opportunity]. I'd love to contribute to a solution if your team is open to collaboration. I have experience with [specific approach] and would be happy to help with implementation."
๐ช๐ต๐ ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ธ๐:
โ Leads with solving their specific business problem
โ Shows you understand their challenges and constraints
โ Offers concrete expertise they can leverage
โ Demonstrates initiative in breaking down silos
๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ด๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป:
โข Broader knowledge of how different functions operate
โข Stronger relationships across the organization
โข Understanding of different processes and working styles
โข Visibility with leadership outside your immediate team
๐๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐'๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฑ: Ask about their workflow and standards first. Integrate with their existing processes rather than disrupting them.
๐๐ณ ๐๐ถ๐บ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ถ๐๐ป'๐ ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐: Ask what future collaboration might look like or how you can stay informed about opportunities.
๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ ๐๐ถ๐ฝ: Start small with clearly defined contributions. Whether you're an engineer offering code help, a PM supporting user research, or any role lending expertise - focus on specific, valuable additions.
Cross-team collaboration isnโt extra credit - itโs a smart investment in your career and your company.
๐ Liked this post? Follow me on LinkedIn or here on Substack for the remaining posts in this series and more!
โ Want to get even better at asking? I still have a limited number of seats left in the July 25 cohort of my course. Last cohort of this year! https://maven.com/chaitali-narla/outstanding-tech-career