Team Collaboration: Managing Across Boundaries

To succeed in today’s global economy, companies often rely on a geographically dispersed and cross-functional workforce. Many of us work with colleagues in different cities and countries that are varied in language and culture. Leading a team with a range of perspectives requires a unique set of skills. In this course, you’ll gain new insights and tools that will enable you to effectively lead a team that can innovate across geographic, functional, and cultural boundaries.

Coordinate and collaborate more effectively across boundaries of cultures, languages, disciplines, geographies, and more
Assess the role of conflict within your team while analyzing your style of conflict management
Build an inclusive and diverse workforce that fosters innovation
Leverage the strengths of cross-boundary teams

Course Outline

The Paradox of Cross-Boundary Work Examine the paradox of cross-boundary work, beginning with exploring the importance of diversity and inclusion in the workforce. Analyze the significance of conflict within a team, and self-reflect on your conflict management style.	Trust and the Emergence of Us vs. Them Dynamics Dive deeper into the challenges and opportunities in cross-boundary collaboration. Cross-boundary teaming faces issues such as an "us vs. them dynamic, fear, and misaligned incentives.
Navigating Cultural Differences As teams collaborate, cultural boundaries become even more complex when people work across global boundaries. Examine the unique challenges of global teams, and how cultural differences can be leveraged to create a powerful and dimensional team.	Traversing Language Divides Different native languages can be difficult to traverse in cross-cultural teams. Analyze how to traverse those language divides and use language differences as an advantage to collaboration.
Leveraging Cross-Boundary Teams for Innovation Focus on leading cross-boundary teams for innovation. Learn how to be a successful leader of a team that needs to cross multiple boundaries, becoming a boundary spanner.