Hi! I searched and didn’t see anyone else talking about this in THIS space.
A lot, (a lot!) of our work is cross-functional in nature. We initially started our Monday platform with department specific workspaces and now I am struggling with how to structure the more cross-functional work (example marketing and membership) that tend to clash and have “feelings” about where tasks are located, who assigns the work, etc.
Anyone crossed this bridge before? All thoughts welcome!
Hi Kristen! Welcome!
I’ve seen this challenge come up from time to time when teams move from department-based workspaces to more cross-functional spaces/workflows. Here’s a few takeaways I wish I knew sooner:
1. Shift the mental model from “ownership” to “purpose.”
Instead of asking “Which department does this board/project/thing belong to?”, try framing it around “What is the purpose of this workflow?”. For example, if Marketing + Membership collaborate on a campaign, create a shared board for the campaign itself, and let it live outside of either department’s workspace. Perhaps even create a Marketing x Membership Collab Workspace. That way, the board reflects the work, not the org chart.
2. Use automations and permissions to reduce friction.
You can set automations so that tasks flow from one department board into a shared cross-functional board (or vice versa) or even from one board when Marketing is “working on it” and another board when Membership “takes over”. It can be clunkier than a collaborative space, but if they don’t work together often it’s good as a one-off solution. This helps maintain visibility while still giving each team comfort that their priorities are tracked in their “home base.” Permissions can also help clarify who assigns work vs. who executes, removing some of the ahem competition that sometimes occurs there.
3. Layer in rituals, not just structure.
No matter how well you set up boards, feelings around task assignment often stem from communication gaps. Standing check-ins or weekly syncs around the shared board can help surface issues before they turn into frustration. Do things, Tell people is a good adage here, but communication is key either way.