How can you ensure that you are getting the most innovative ideas out of your internal team or even your external clients, agencies and freelancers? Wix Studios recently shared their collaboration insights in an article for Adobe MAX 2023. Cross-team collaboration is effective for several reasons, but here are just a few tips on how you can promote synergy and foster a more dynamic and productive work environment.

Tap into people’s complex and varied skill sets instead of boxing them into rigid job titles: Encourage fluid roles and your team will assume responsibilities based on their individual strengths. Being inclusive in brainstorming sessions and project meetings allows for diverse perspectives across disciplines to spark fresh ideas.

Create a safe space to take big risks: Embracing experimentation is the essence of creativity. By creating an environment that does not fear failure, people will be more willing to try new things. Remember to share the “failed” ideas as much as you share the successful ones – it’s all important to the learning experience … and who knows, it may be applicable elsewhere!

Institute a workflow that facilitates both organization and creative flexibility: Make it easier for your employees to communicate and work closely together, even when the team spans across state lines. There are numerous collaborative software’s and tools out there that all do essentially the same thing with a few exceptions. The perfect collaboration tool is too difficult to narrow down but finding the “right” tool is achievable. Remember that these tools are meant to enhance your process, not dictate it.

Promote a continuous commitment to learning and development across disciplines: Encouraging a learning culture enriches your team’s collective abilities. Remember that collaboration is also about long-term personal growth. Allowing your team to take on projects or tasks that pique their interests and give them opportunities for knowledge sharing broadens the scope of their official roles.