How can you use influence to align and collaborate across teams?

Understanding the people you are seeking to collaborate is really the first step in the process. If you are seeking to understand simply for the purpose of influence, they will know. Going the step beyond and truly seeking a meaningful relationship should be the aim, which would look different in each case. We are all people seeking similar things in business, things like purpose, financial stability, or the ability to provide for our family’s future. Seeking to help others in their pursuit of these things through your part of their in their story is how collaborating truly happens.

Start by building social capital - make authentic connections and offer support beyond your self-interests. This goodwill fosters trust and receptiveness. Next, frame initiatives through the lens of shared goals and mutual benefit. Help others see how teamwork produces better outcomes than siloed efforts. Use insightful questions and data to guide thinking, not just opinions. Model the collaborative behaviors you want to see by seeking input early, openly sharing context, and celebrating collective wins. Make it a point to understand motivators across teams to uncover smart influence angles. Be an ambassador for the "one team" mindset through consistent words and actions. Rally diverse groups around a unifying vision of success.

Influence + collaborate + align + across + teams = formula for success ... 1. To influence, you need to establish trust within the first 7 minutes (that's the time it takes to fall in love) 2. To collaborate means aiming at reaching the same goal 3. Align means to be willing to obey certain criteria and not play solo 4. Across means interacting between independent parallel positions 5. Teams means to understand that there is power in unity ... Being willing to establish immediate trust, to unite resources, and working independently in order to reach the same goals, is like racing on a sailbot. It only works if all parties are a perfect fit, and able to maintain proper communication and teamwork

If people like you, they will talk to you. If people trust you, they will do business with you. Golden words shared with me by my mentor early on in my career. Think about it - when do you trust someone? When they give you solutions to all your problems, when you can go to them and get advice without judgement, when they're present to guide you on the right path and not get sidetracked, when they openly show appreciation and live up to their words and commitments and continuously deliver value to you. That's exactly what you need to do. Rapport, then, becomes a byproduct of doing all the above well.

To foster alignment and collaboration across teams, it's essential to establish clear communication channels and promote a shared vision. Encouraging regular cross-functional meetings, setting common goals, and recognizing team achievements collectively can help build a sense of unity. Providing opportunities for inter-team collaboration through workshops, joint projects, or team-building activities can further strengthen bonds and encourage mutual support. Additionally, leaders should lead by example, demonstrating openness to collaboration and actively facilitating connections between teams. Overall, creating a culture of collaboration and alignment requires consistent effort, communication, and a focus on shared objectives.