How to increase collaboration between teams in 2025?

Remember Toy Story (1995)? Woody and Buzz Lightyear couldn’t be more different—one’s a pull-string cowboy stuck in his ways, the other’s a delusional space ranger with a serious ego. Their rivalry nearly tore Andy’s room apart. But when faced with getting left behind during a move, they had no choice but to work together. And when they finally did? Magic.

They launched off a moving van, soared through the sky, and landed in perfect sync—right into Andy’s car. That’s collaboration done right. It wasn’t about agreeing on everything—it was about trusting each other’s strengths to achieve a shared goal.

In today’s workplace, teams are just as diverse—design thinking one way, engineering thinking another, marketing in its own orbit. But when you build trust, share a mission, and combine superpowers, you create something way bigger than the sum of your parts.

Let’s explore how to boost that kind of cross-team collaboration in 2025. No toy left behind.

What is collaboration between teams?

Collaboration between teams is more than just sending Slack messages and looping in departments on endless email chains. It’s about creating a dynamic where different teams—marketing, sales, product, HR—work together with clarity, mutual respect, and a shared purpose.

True collaboration means teams align on goals, understand each other’s strengths, and communicate openly to solve problems or build something bigger than what they could on their own. It’s not forced; it’s intentional. When done right, collaboration feels less like a chore and more like co-creating.

Whether it’s launching a product or improving customer experience, great collaboration reduces friction, encourages innovation, and fosters a workplace culture where progress is a team sport—not a departmental competition. But collaboration doesn’t happen by accident.

It needs the right tools, psychological safety, and a leadership mindset that rewards cross-functional wins over siloed achievements. When teams see the bigger picture and are empowered to contribute beyond their own lane, that’s when collaboration becomes a catalyst—not just a checkbox on the workflow.

Why is team collaboration important in the workplace?

Great things rarely happen in silos—and that's exactly why strong team collaboration is at the heart of a thriving workplace.

• Fuels innovation: When cross functioning teams brainstorm together, they bring unique viewpoints that spark fresh ideas and innovative solutions. That’s the foundation of how to improve collaboration that drives real results.
• Breaks down silos: Effective cross functional team collaboration breaks the walls between departments. It encourages transparency and helps employees see the bigger picture, aligning everyone toward shared goals.
• Boosts efficiency: Cross team collaboration reduces duplicated efforts and keeps everyone aligned on timelines and expectations, making projects smoother and faster.
• Increases engagement: Want to know how to encourage collaboration in the workplace? Start by involving people. When employees feel heard and valued across functions, morale and engagement soar.
• Strengthens problem-solving: A cross-collaborator mindset brings diverse skill sets together to tackle challenges from multiple angles. That’s a win for both people and processes.
• Improves communication: Frequent collaboration improves how teams communicate and resolve conflict—one of the most important aspects of how to improve collaboration in high-growth environments.

Benefits of cross-team collaboration

• Enhanced problem-solving: Cross-team collaboration brings together individuals with diverse backgrounds, skills, and perspectives. By working together, teams can approach complex problems from multiple angles, leading to more comprehensive and innovative solutions.
• Improved communication and knowledge sharing: When teams collaborate across departments, communication channels naturally open up. Employees gain a broader understanding of the organization, its processes, and the work being done in different areas.
• Increased efficiency and resource utilization: Cross-team collaboration helps optimize resource utilization within an organization. Teams can pool their expertise, share responsibilities, and distribute workloads more efficiently. This collaboration minimizes duplication of effort and maximizes the effective use of available resources, resulting in increased productivity and cost savings.
• Accelerated innovation and adaptability: Collaborating across teams facilitates the exchange of ideas and sparks innovation. Different perspectives and experiences blend together, encouraging creativity and out-of-the-box thinking. This collaborative environment enables organizations to adapt quickly to changing market dynamics, industry trends, and customer needs.
• Strengthened relationships and team cohesion: Cross-team collaboration fosters stronger relationships among employees from different departments. As individuals work together on shared projects, they build trust, respect, and a sense of camaraderie.
• Enhanced learning and professional development: Collaborating with colleagues from different teams provide valuable learning opportunities. Employees can broaden their skill sets, gain new perspectives, and develop a deeper understanding of various aspects of the business. This exposure not only enhances individual growth but also contributes to the overall talent development within the organization.

Top 7 challenges of collaboration

1. Communication barriers: Poor communication is one of the most common challenges in collaboration. Misinterpretation, information overload, or language barriers can hinder effective collaboration and lead to misunderstandings and delays.
2. Lack of trust: Collaboration requires trust among team members. When trust is lacking, individuals may hesitate to share ideas or provide honest feedback, inhibiting the free flow of communication and hindering collaboration.
3. Siloed mindsets and departments: Siloed mindsets and departmental barriers can hinder collaboration. When teams operate in isolation and prioritize their own goals over shared objectives, collaboration becomes difficult, and opportunities for cross-pollination of ideas are missed.
4. Varying work styles and priorities: Team members may have different work styles, priorities, or approaches to problem-solving. These differences can lead to conflicts and challenges in finding common ground, impacting the efficiency and effectiveness of collaboration.
5. Geographic and time zone differences: In global or remote teams, geographic locations, and time zone differences pose challenges to collaboration. Scheduling meetings, coordinating tasks, and maintaining effective communication across different time zones can hinder seamless collaboration.
6. Lack of accountability: Collaboration requires a shared sense of accountability, where team members take responsibility for their roles and commitments. When individuals fail to fulfill their obligations, it can result in delays, frustration, and breakdowns in collaboration.
7. Technology and tool limitations: Inadequate or inefficient collaboration tools and technologies can impede collaboration efforts. If teams lack access to proper platforms for communication, file sharing, and project management, it can hinder collaboration and limit productivity.

What are the four ways to build collaboration?

1. Foster a collaborative culture

Building collaboration starts with creating a work culture that values and promotes teamwork. Encourage open communication, transparency, and mutual respect among individual team members.

Recognize and celebrate collaborative efforts and successes. Emphasize the importance of cross-functional collaboration and break down any silos that hinder communication and knowledge-sharing.

2. Establish clear goals and roles

Clearly define and communicate the goals and objectives that require workplace collaboration. Ensure that each team member understands their role and how it contributes to the overall project or company vision.

Set realistic expectations, provide necessary resources, and establish accountability to keep everyone aligned and motivated. This allows every member of collaborative teams to ensure they're on the same page.

3. Encourage communication and knowledge sharing

Collaboration relies on robust communication channels. Implement tools and platforms that facilitate seamless information exchange, such as project management software, instant messaging, or shared document repositories. Encourage a mix of real-time and asynchronous communication to accommodate different work styles and time zones, making sure team members can contribute without unnecessary disruptions. Email management tools can help maintain a clean inbox to guarantee the best message flow between teams.

4. Promote team building activities

Team building activities outside of the regular work routine can foster stronger relationships and trust among team members. Organize team-building exercises, workshops, or off-site events encouraging collaboration, problem-solving, and bonding. These activities help create a sense of camaraderie, enhance interpersonal dynamics, and strengthen the foundation for collaboration.

By implementing these strategies, companies, young and old, can cultivate a collaborative environment where teams thrive, innovation flourishes, and success becomes a collective endeavor. Remember, collaboration is not just a buzzword; it's the fuel that propels organizations toward greatness.

Difference between collaborate, cooperate, and teamwork

Common barriers to effective inter-team collaboration

Even with the right intentions, teams can hit roadblocks that stall progress and frustrate collaboration efforts.

• Lack of shared goals and alignment: When cross functional teams don’t have a unified vision, they often work in silos. This misalignment hinders progress and makes it difficult to figure out how to improve team collaboration across departments or projects.
• Poor communication and information flow: Gaps in communication—whether due to tools, habits, or hierarchy—can create confusion and duplication of work. Learning how to improve collaboration often starts with improving how information is shared between cross functioning teams.
• Unclear roles and responsibilities: When team members don’t understand where their duties begin or end, cross-functional team collaboration can become chaotic. Clear ownership is essential for effective execution and for nurturing a reliable cross-collaborator culture.
• Resistance to change and territorial behavior: Teams often protect their processes or priorities, making collaboration feel like a threat rather than an opportunity. Overcoming this mindset is key in understanding how to encourage collaboration in the workplace and promote openness in cross team collaboration.
• Lack of the right tools or infrastructure: Without the systems to support collaboration, even the most willing teams will struggle. Cross functional team collaboration thrives when supported by tools that enable real-time updates, task transparency, and centralized communication.

Building psychological safety to encourage open communication

Psychological safety is the foundation of open and honest communication within teams. It’s the sense that individuals can express ideas, ask questions, and admit mistakes without fear of judgment or negative consequences. When psychological safety exists, team members are more likely to speak up, share feedback, and engage in meaningful collaboration.

Leaders play a pivotal role in creating this kind of environment. By being open about their own uncertainties, actively listening, and responding with empathy, they signal that all voices are welcome. This encourages others to contribute authentically, helping foster deeper team trust.

Small actions can make a big impact—like acknowledging contributions in meetings, encouraging quieter voices, or creating anonymous ways to share feedback. These practices help build a culture where everyone feels heard and respected.

Without psychological safety, collaboration often becomes superficial, driven by fear or conformity. But when safety is present, teams thrive. People feel empowered to challenge ideas, propose bold solutions, and work through conflict constructively.

Building psychological safety isn’t just about being “nice”—it’s about creating the conditions for real, effective collaboration. It’s what transforms communication from cautious to courageous, and teams from functional to high-performing.

How to increase collaboration between teams departments?

• Encourage cross-departmental projects: Encourage and facilitate projects that require collaboration between departments. These projects create opportunities for teams to work together, share knowledge, and build relationships. Assign cross-functional teams to tackle complex challenges, allowing them to leverage their unique expertise and perspectives.
• Foster regular communication channels: Establish regular communication channels between departments to facilitate collaboration. For team leaders looking to improve cross-team meetings, applying proven strategies for running team meetings can help ensure that every gathering is purposeful, includes clear agendas, and encourages equal participation—building trust and efficiency in collaborative environments.
  
  This can include regular meetings, joint email lists, or dedicated communication platforms. Encourage open and transparent communication, where teams can share updates, insights, and challenges.
• Create shared goals and objectives: Align the goals and objectives of different departments to create a sense of shared purpose. When departments understand how their work interconnects and contributes to the overall success of the company, they are more likely to collaborate effectively. Set up common metrics and team performance indicators to track progress toward shared goals.
• Promote cross-departmental training and knowledge sharing: Encourage employees to participate in training sessions or workshops that span multiple departments. This helps individuals gain a broader understanding of the organization and promotes knowledge exchange between teams. Foster a learning culture and provide platforms for employees to share their expertise and experiences.

What does effective collaboration look like?

Effective collaboration in the workplace encompasses various aspects that contribute to its success. Does your organization have the following?

1. Active participation: Team members actively contribute their ideas, insights, and expertise. They engage in discussions, ask questions, and offer constructive feedback. Each member feels empowered to voice their opinions and is encouraged to actively participate in collaborative activities. This kind of engagement fosters creativity, builds trust, and helps surface better solutions faster.
2. Seamless cooperation: Collaboration involves seamless cooperation and coordination among team members. They work together harmoniously, leveraging team member's unique strengths, and dividing tasks effectively. There is a sense of synergy as they combine their efforts to achieve shared goals. This unity leads to smoother workflows and a greater sense of collective purpose.
3. Flexibility and adaptability: Collaborative teams are flexible and adaptable, embracing changes and adjusting their strategies as needed. They understand that collaboration requires compromise and the ability to adapt to evolving circumstances. They are open to new ideas and approaches, fostering a culture of continuous improvement. adaptability helps teams stay resilient and innovative in fast-changing environments.
4. Effective conflict resolution: Conflict can arise during collaboration, but effective teams address conflicts constructively. They approach conflicts with open-mindedness, seeking resolutions that benefit the team as a whole. Conflict is seen as an opportunity for growth and learning, rather than a roadblock to progress. Handled well, conflict strengthens relationships and clarifies expectations.
5. Shared accountability: In collaborative environments, team members take collective ownership of both success and setbacks. They hold themselves and each other accountable, ensuring transparency and a shared commitment to outcomes. This sense of responsibility drives performance and builds a culture of reliability.
6. Clear communication: Successful collaboration relies on open and honest communication. Teams share updates, clarify expectations, and actively listen—ensuring everyone stays informed, aligned, and motivated throughout the process. Consistent communication minimizes misunderstandings and keeps momentum strong.

20+ Innovative ideas to improve team performance

Boosting performance isn’t about working harder—it’s about working smarter with better collaboration, clarity, and creativity.

1. Host weekly cross-functional syncs to share updates: These brief meetings keep cross-functional teams aligned on goals and blockers. They help streamline communication and promote effective team collaboration. Great for keeping momentum without micromanaging.
2. Launch a mentorship circle to support peer learning: Group mentorship improves skills while fostering trust. It strengthens collaboration with team members across different levels. A great way to enhance continuous learning and feedback.
3. Rotate project leads to build diverse skill sets: This empowers individuals and builds team-wide leadership. It also encourages ownership and shows how to foster collaboration at work through role sharing. Rotations create well-rounded, agile teams.
4. Use icebreaker games to strengthen collaboration with team members: Start meetings with short, fun icebreakers to ease tension. They’re especially helpful in virtual settings for building group collaboration and engagement. Simple, playful, and powerful.
5. Create a shared team vision board for goal alignment: Having a visual reminder of shared goals keeps teams focused. It drives collaboration across departments and aligns individual contributions with team success. Keep it accessible and updated.
6. Set up a virtual suggestion box for team feedback: This gives everyone a voice, regardless of role or location. A great cross team collaboration idea that sparks improvement and inclusion. Feedback = fuel for performance.
7. Designate “no meeting” focus hours for deep work: Uninterrupted time boosts productivity and reduces burnout. It also shows respect for individual workflows while supporting group collaboration rhythm. Balance collaboration with autonomy.
8. Start lunch-and-learn sessions for informal upskilling: Encourage team members to share expertise over casual sessions. It enhances collaboration across departments and promotes a learning culture. Plus, it makes knowledge-sharing fun.
9. Introduce gamified challenges to energize group collaboration: Gamification turns problem-solving into play. Whether it’s a productivity contest or a cross-functional quiz, it energizes and unites teams. Great for morale and engagement.
10. Run quarterly innovation days to spark new ideas: Let teams experiment without the pressure of “perfect.” These open days are ideal cross team collaboration ideas that generate fresh perspectives. Innovation needs breathing room.
11. Celebrate quick wins to build momentum: Don’t wait for big milestones—recognize small victories. This encourages collaboration with team members and reinforces what’s working. A little praise goes a long way.
12. Organize cross team collaboration ideas brainstorming workshops: Pull together different teams to ideate on shared challenges. These sessions are great for surfacing insights and improving collaboration across departments. Think outside the org chart.
13. Host “Ask Me Anything” sessions with leadership: Break down hierarchies and open direct communication lines. It improves trust, transparency, and helps foster collaboration at work across all levels. Authenticity builds buy-in.
14. Schedule team retrospectives to reflect and adapt: Look back to move forward. Retrospectives help identify what worked and what didn’t, enhancing team collaboration and agility. Continuous improvement starts with awareness.
15. Build a cross-functional task force for key initiatives: Bring together diverse skill sets for specific projects. This is effective for cross-functional team collaboration and building relationships beyond usual circles. Mission-driven and inclusive.
16. Encourage job shadowing across departments for empathy building: Seeing how others work builds appreciation and reduces silos. This improves cross-functional team collaboration and fosters inter-team respect. Walk a mile in their role.
17. Use mood check-ins to gauge team morale: Quick emotional check-ins help you spot burnout or frustration early. It supports group collaboration by creating psychological safety. Wellness and performance go hand in hand.
18. Set up team goals tied to individual growth paths: Aligning personal and team objectives increases motivation. It’s a smart way to improve team collaboration through shared purpose. What’s good for one should be good for all.
19. Encourage storytelling sessions to share wins and learnings: Let team members reflect on what worked—and what didn’t. These narratives boost collaboration with team members and foster a knowledge-sharing culture. Stories stick more than stats.
20. Invest in tools that enable effective team collaboration: Use intuitive tools that support async and real-time work. Choosing the right tech makes it easier to collaborate, especially for distributed teams. Function should meet flow.
21. Promote ownership by letting team members lead initiatives: Encouraging leadership at every level fosters accountability and innovation. It also shows how to foster collaboration at work by distributing influence. Shared ownership, shared success.

Collaboration in the workplace examples

1. Virtual collaboration: With the rise of remote work, virtual collaboration has become increasingly important. Teams utilize technology tools like video conferencing, project management software, and shared document platforms to collaborate seamlessly across distances. Virtual collaboration enables global teams to work together efficiently and effectively.
2. Design thinking workshops: Design thinking workshops bring together individuals from various departments to solve complex problems or develop innovative solutions. This collaborative approach encourages brainstorming, empathy, and iteration. By combining insights from different perspectives, teams can create impactful and user-centered solutions.
3. Interdepartmental communication initiatives: Organizations foster collaboration through interdepartmental communication initiatives. For instance, implementing a company-wide newsletter or regular town hall meetings allows teams to share updates, achievements, and knowledge. These initiatives promote cross-pollination of ideas and enhance collaboration across the organization.
4. Agile stand-up meetings: Daily agile stand-ups promote group collaboration by allowing teams to align on priorities, address blockers, and share quick updates. These brief but focused sessions enhance collaboration by ensuring everyone is on the same page and driving progress forward.
5. Project kick-off sessions: Kick-off meetings bring cross functional teams together at the start of a project to clarify objectives, roles, and deliverables. This sets a strong foundation for effective team collaboration by encouraging shared understanding and alignment from day one.
6. Mentorship or buddy programs: Pairing new hires or junior employees with experienced team members is a practical way to foster collaboration at work. These relationships promote knowledge sharing and deepen collaboration with team members across different levels and functions.
7. Hackathons and innovation sprints: Hackathons bring diverse minds together to solve challenges in a short timeframe. These are great cross team collaboration ideas that encourage creativity, teamwork, and rapid prototyping—often producing breakthrough results.
8. Cross-departmental task forces: Creating task forces for specific goals—like sustainability or DEI initiatives—enables collaboration across departments. These groups tap into different areas of expertise to generate well-rounded and strategic solutions.
9. Collaborative goal setting: Setting goals with input from multiple teams improves ownership and alignment. It also helps improve team collaboration by ensuring that everyone has a stake in the outcome and a clear role to play.
10. Integrated collaboration platforms: Using one of the 5 essential team collaboration tools—such as Slack, Trello, or Microsoft Teams—makes it easier to streamline communication, track progress, and centralize feedback in real time.
11. Cross-training programs: Cross-training encourages team members to learn each other’s roles, building empathy and improving cross-team collaboration. It helps break down silos and strengthens agility within and between departments.
12. Company-wide retrospectives: Hosting retrospectives that involve multiple departments allows organizations to reflect on recent projects. These sessions are key collaboration strategies that surface lessons, recognize wins, and reinforce a culture of shared learning.

The role of leadership in modeling collaborative behavior

Leaders set the tone for how collaboration is perceived, practiced, and prioritized across the organization.

• Lead with transparency: Leaders who openly share goals, challenges, and updates create an environment of trust. This transparency encourages teams to do the same, breaking down silos and promoting a culture of honest communication and aligned collaboration.
• Encourage cross-functional involvement: When leaders involve multiple departments in discussions or decision-making, they demonstrate the value of cross-functional collaboration. This signals that diverse input isn’t just welcomed—it’s expected and respected.
• Actively listen and give credit: Effective leaders don’t just talk—they listen. By giving credit publicly and valuing every contribution, leaders build a sense of inclusion and psychological safety, motivating others to engage and contribute fully in team settings.
• Model vulnerability and openness: Great leaders admit when they don’t have all the answers and show openness to feedback. This behavior normalizes uncertainty and invites open dialogue, paving the way for more authentic, effective team collaboration.
• Support collaborative learning and development: Leaders who invest in team-based learning experiences or shared projects encourage long-term collaboration habits. From workshops to co-led initiatives, they provide platforms where collaboration becomes a daily behavior—not a one-off event.

How can an employee experience platform help you improve collaboration?

• Centralized Communication Hub: An employee experience platform serves as a centralized communication hub, providing a dedicated space for teams to collaborate. It brings together various communication channels, such as chat, video conferencing, and discussion boards, in one unified platform.
• Enhanced accessibility and availability: An employee experience platform offers accessibility and availability to collaboration tools and resources. Whether employees are working from different locations or different time zones, they can access the platform at their convenience. This flexibility enables seamless collaboration and ensures that teams can work together effectively, regardless of their physical location.
• Project and task management: Many employee experience platforms offer integrated project and task management functionalities. Teams can create, assign, and track tasks within the platform, ensuring clear visibility into project progress and responsibilities. This helps team members stay organized, aligned, and focused on collective goals, improving overall project management and collaboration.
• Knowledge sharing and learning resources: An employee experience platform often includes knowledge-sharing and learning resources, such as internal wikis, training materials, and best practice repositories. These resources facilitate knowledge exchange, enabling team members to share insights, expertise, and lessons learned.
• Employee recognition and appreciation: Collaboration thrives in an environment where employees feel recognized and appreciated for their contributions. Many employee experience platforms incorporate employee recognition and appreciation features, such as peer-to-peer recognition or public recognition boards.
• Data analytics and insights: An employee experience platform can provide valuable data analytics and insights into collaboration efforts. It can track metrics like team engagement, team collaboration, communication patterns, and project outcomes.

Conclusion

So, whether it was orchestrating a surprise party or coordinating a last-minute school play, we’ve all experienced the magic of spontaneous, all-hands-on-deck collaboration. No titles, no red tape—just people rallying around a shared goal. That same energy is exactly what today’s teams need (minus the glitter glue and juice boxes).

Enter the employee feedback survey. It’s not just about surveys or check-ins—it’s about understanding what truly motivates your people, what frustrates them, and how they can work better together. When you design experiences around real insights, collaboration becomes less of a task and more of a reflex.

And that’s where CultureMonkey shines. With its employee experience platform at the core, it helps organizations listen deeply, act faster, and build cultures that thrive on connection—not just communication. Because when culture works, collaboration isn’t forced—it just flows.

FAQs

1. What does good team collaboration look like

Good team collaboration is clear, inclusive, and goal-oriented. Team members communicate openly, respect each other’s strengths, and share accountability. Ideas flow freely, tasks are aligned, and decisions are made collectively. It’s not just about working together—it’s about working smarter, with trust and shared purpose driving every interaction and outcome.

2. How can we align goals across different teams?

Aligning goals starts with shared visibility. Leaders should establish a common mission, clarify team-specific roles, and create joint KPIs. Regular cross-functional check-ins ensure alignment stays on track. When every team understands how their work supports the bigger picture, collaboration becomes purposeful, reducing friction and siloed efforts.

3. How often should cross-team meetings be held?

Cross-team meetings should be held regularly enough to maintain alignment—typically biweekly or monthly, depending on project complexity. The key is consistency without overload. These meetings should focus on updates, dependencies, and blockers, ensuring all teams stay informed and coordinated while respecting everyone’s time and priorities.

4. How can conflict between teams be resolved quickly?

Address conflict early with open, structured conversations. Focus on shared goals, not blame, and encourage active listening from all sides. Use neutral facilitation if needed. Clarify misunderstandings, align on next steps, and document agreements. Quick, respectful resolution preserves trust and keeps collaboration productive—even when tensions arise.

5. What are the 3 Cs of collaboration?

The 3 C's of collaboration are communication, cooperation, and coordination. Effective collaboration requires clear communication, working together cooperatively, and coordinating efforts toward shared goals to ensure alignment, build trust, and drive results across teams. When these elements are consistently practiced, teams become more agile, innovative, and resilient—creating a culture where shared success is prioritized over individual silos.

6. How poor collaboration impacts culture and business outcomes

Poor collaboration breeds silos, miscommunication, and mistrust—leading to delays, duplicated efforts, and disengaged employees. It erodes workplace culture, stifles innovation, and ultimately impacts customer experience and revenue. Without aligned teamwork, even the best strategies fall flat, making effective collaboration not just a “nice-to-have” but a critical driver of long-term business success.

7. How DEI efforts can boost collaboration across diverse teams

DEI initiatives foster psychological safety, empathy, and inclusive communication—key elements of effective collaboration. By embracing diverse perspectives and creating equitable spaces, organizations unlock richer ideas and deeper trust among team members. DEI isn’t just about fairness—it actively improves collaboration by making every voice feel heard, respected, and essential to shared goals.