The MacKellar Memo | April 2023
For many of us, spring is nothing short of magical. It brings the smell of fresh cut grass, the chance to ski in shorts and t-shirts, the simple pleasure of eating a lukewarm hotdog while the Rapids lose again, and even more important, the start of summer tour season for music lovers across the country. It's a time when we come together with friends, family, and fellow fans to experience the thrill of live music in the great outdoors. And while we may not all share the same taste in music, one thing we can all agree on is the importance of collaboration. But what lessons can we, as an agency rather than a group of mid-50s folks reliving their glory days on stage, apply from the world of music to create better serve our clients?
I know we all have our different tastes in music – some of us are into hip hop, others prefer indie rock, and then there's me, still (not so) secretly listening to Dave Matthews Band (don't worry, I won't subject you to any impromptu rant about why #41 is the best song ever). But when it comes to cross-functional collaboration, one thing we can all agree on is that working together towards a shared goal is essential to our success as an agency. And believe it or not, DMB actually provides a great example of how teams with different approaches and points of view can come together to create something amazing.
The band's eclectic mix of rock, jazz, and folk influences, combined with Dave Matthews' distinctive vocals and songwriting style, has resulted in a sound that's truly unique. Each member of the band brings their own expertise and perspective to the table, and it's only through collaboration and experimentation that they're able to create music that resonates with such a wide audience. In the same way, by working together across teams and leveraging our different strengths and expertise, we can create solutions for our clients that are truly innovative and effective.
As an agency, we have always prided ourselves on the diversity and expertise of our different teams. Our Strategy, Innovation, and Studio teams each bring their own unique perspective to the work we do, helping us to deliver truly incredible work for our clients. As we continue to grow as an agency, fostering (even more) cross-team collaboration is essential to unlocking the full potential of our agency.
At its core, cross-team collaboration is about breaking down silos and bringing different perspectives and expertise together to solve complex problems. It means working together towards a shared goal, leveraging each team's strengths and expertise to drive better outcomes for our clients. But why is cross-team collaboration so important? Here are just a few reasons why we believe it's essential:
Diverse perspectives lead to better outcomes
When we bring people from different teams together to work on a project, we're able to tap into a wide range of perspectives and expertise. This can lead to better problem-solving, more creative ideas, and ultimately, better outcomes for our clients. By breaking down silos and encouraging cross-team collaboration, we're able to create a more diverse and inclusive work environment that values different perspectives and approaches.
Increased efficiency and productivity
By working together across teams, we're able to streamline our processes and reduce duplication of effort. Rather than reinventing the wheel every time we start a new project (just imagine Shannon here saying because no one was assigned), we can leverage the knowledge and expertise of our colleagues from other teams. This can lead to faster turnaround times, increased efficiency, and ultimately, more productive teams.
Improved client relationships
When we're able to work together seamlessly across teams, we're better equipped to build strong relationships with our clients. By having a more holistic view of their needs and challenges, we're able to deliver more integrated and effective solutions that truly meet their needs. This, in turn, can help us to build stronger, more long-lasting client relationships that drive revenue growth for our agency.
Of course, fostering cross-team collaboration isn't always easy. It requires a willingness to step outside of our comfort zones, to be open to new ideas and approaches, and to work collaboratively towards a shared goal. But we believe that the benefits far outweigh the challenges, and that by working together across teams, we can achieve great things.
So how can we foster cross-team collaboration within our agency?
Here are a few strategies we believe can help:
Build relationships across teams: The first step towards fostering cross-team collaboration is to build relationships across teams. This means getting to know our colleagues from other teams, understanding their strengths and expertise, and finding common ground. By building relationships based on trust and mutual respect, we can create a foundation for effective collaboration.
Encourage knowledge-sharing: One of the key benefits of cross-team collaboration is the ability to share knowledge and expertise across teams. While knowledge-sharing through regular team meetings, training sessions, and workshops can help to break down silos and ensure that everyone is working from a shared understanding of the project goals and objectives, we don’t always have the time in the day for it. So when we’re pressed for time, let’s keep turning to Slab as our ever-growing knowledge base and continue documenting everything good (and bad) so we can continuously learn from each other.
Foster a culture of collaboration: Finally, fostering a culture of collaboration is essential to creating an environment where cross-team collaboration can thrive. This means recognizing collaborative behavior, encouraging feedback and open communication, and creating opportunities for cross-team collaboration through joint projects and initiatives.
In conclusion, cross-team collaboration is essential to unlocking the full potential of our agency. By working together towards a shared goal, we can tap into the diverse perspectives and expertise of our different teams to deliver better outcomes for our clients, increase efficiency and productivity, and drive revenue growth for our agency.