Internal Networking

In larger organizations it is easy for each team to work alone in their own silo. Most teams may not have much in common, or any real reason to work together. However, that kind of behavior inhibits innovation and growth for all teams and for the organization as a whole. 

Managers should encourage team leaders to work with one another, and should create an environment where team leaders are rewarded for working together. At first, managers will have to be the facilitators of these interactions and push team leaders to collaborate.
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How can managers be facilitators? When meeting with team leaders, managers should listen carefully, and identify areas for collaboration between teams. Managers should then ask one of the team leaders to schedule the meeting with the teams and managers should be present at the meeting. Managers should follow up with the team leaders and ensure that next steps are being followed. 

Once this process becomes natural to team leaders, where they look out for opportunities and collaborate. Managers should reward the collaborations by making the successes and failures public to the rest of the organization. Managers should also take a personal interest in the successful collaborations and help direct funds to those projects.     ​