What are the most common challenges in cross-team learning and how can you overcome them?

1 Challenge 1: Communication barriers

One of the main challenges in cross-team learning is to overcome the communication barriers that may exist between different teams, such as language, culture, time zones, or preferences. These barriers can cause misunderstandings, confusion, or frustration that can affect the learning outcomes and the team dynamics. To overcome this challenge, you need to establish clear and frequent communication channels, use simple and consistent language, respect and appreciate diversity, and seek feedback and clarification regularly.

2 Challenge 2: Alignment of goals and expectations

Another challenge in cross-team learning is to ensure that all the teams involved have a shared understanding of the learning goals, expectations, and roles. Without alignment, teams may have different or conflicting agendas, priorities, or standards that can lead to wasted time, resources, or efforts. To overcome this challenge, you need to define and communicate the learning objectives, outcomes, and indicators, align them with the team and organizational goals, and assign and clarify the roles and responsibilities of each team member.

3 Challenge 3: Trust and accountability

A third challenge in cross-team learning is to build and maintain trust and accountability among the teams. Trust is essential for creating a safe and supportive learning environment, where teams can share, learn, and grow together. Accountability is also important for ensuring that teams follow through on their commitments, deliver quality results, and provide feedback and recognition. To overcome this challenge, you need to foster a culture of trust and accountability, where teams can communicate openly, respect and support each other, acknowledge and address issues, and celebrate and reward successes.

4 Challenge 4: Integration of learning

A fourth challenge in cross-team learning is to integrate the learning into the team and organizational practices. Learning is not a one-time event, but a continuous process that requires reinforcement, application, and evaluation. However, teams may face barriers to integrate their learning, such as lack of time, resources, or support. To overcome this challenge, you need to create and follow a learning plan, where teams can identify and implement action steps, monitor and measure progress, and review and reflect on the learning outcomes and impact.

5 Challenge 5: Evaluation of learning

A fifth challenge in cross-team learning is to evaluate the learning effectiveness and impact. Evaluation is crucial for assessing the value and benefits of the learning, identifying the strengths and weaknesses, and improving the learning process and outcomes. However, teams may face difficulties to evaluate their learning, such as lack of data, tools, or criteria. To overcome this challenge, you need to design and conduct a learning evaluation, where teams can collect and analyze data, use appropriate tools and methods, and apply relevant criteria and standards.

6 Challenge 6: Scalability of learning

A sixth challenge in cross-team learning is to scale the learning across the organization. Scaling is important for spreading the learning, enhancing the organizational performance and culture, and creating a competitive advantage. However, teams may face obstacles to scale their learning, such as resistance, complexity, or inconsistency. To overcome this challenge, you need to plan and execute a learning scaling strategy, where teams can communicate and share the learning, engage and involve the stakeholders, and adapt and customize the learning to different contexts and needs.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?