Teams don’t win by accident—they win by design. I’ve learned that lesson over 20+ years leading people, from a crew of nine at AIG to 30+ professionals across finance, ops, and compliance. Whether I was driving a $54M restructure at AIG or boosting efficiency by 12% at Consultgenix, one thing stood out: Cross-functional leadership is the secret sauce for unlocking team performance. It’s about breaking silos, building trust, and rallying everyone around a shared goal. Let’s dive into how you can enhance your team’s impact because great results start with great collaboration.
The Value of Collaboration Across Departments
Silos kill momentum—I’ve seen it too often. At Kemper Insurance, I watched finance and ops clash over budgets until we aligned them with data-driven goals, saving $55M. When teams work in isolation, you get duplication, missteps, and frustration. But when do they sync? Magic happens.
Cross-functional leadership bridges that gap. It’s about getting sales, marketing, finance—everyone—on the same page. At AIG, I led 30+ pros to a 30% profitability spike by uniting their efforts. Collaboration isn’t just nice—it’s a competitive edge.
Building Trust and Accountability
Here’s the catch: You can’t force teamwork. Trust is the glue. I’ve been the guy in the room, sleeves rolled up, convincing a skeptical ops lead at AIG that our divestiture plan would work. How? By listening, explaining the “why,” and delivering results—like $20M in EBITDA gains.
Accountability follows trust. At Consultgenix, I’ve coached teams to own their piece of the puzzle—whether it’s compliance filings or sales targets. Give people clarity and stakes they believe in, and they’ll step up every time.
A Real-World Example: Leading 30+ at AIG
Let’s rewind to my time at AIG, 2012–2018. I was Finance Head for Personal Insurance in the LAC region, managing $900M in premiums. We were restructuring—divesting non-core units worth $54M—and it was messy. Finance wanted cost cuts, ops worried about workflow, compliance fretted over regs.
I brought them together. We mapped the plan—weekly huddles, shared KPIs, open Q&As. I leaned on tools like Power BI to show real-time progress, keeping everyone in the loop. The result? A leaner operation, $40M in debt reduction, and a team that hit 30% profitability growth. It wasn’t me—it was us. Cross-functional leadership turned chaos into a win.
Tools for Effective Team Management
I’m a tool guy—because the right ones amplify teamwork. At Kemper, Workday Adaptive Planning synced our divisions, cutting reporting time and boosting accountability. At AIG, Salesforce tracked sales and ops handoffs, driving that 16% growth.
Here’s what I recommend:
- Collaboration Platforms: ClickUp or MS Teams—I’ve used both to keep teams aligned.
- Data Dashboards: Tableau or Power BI for transparency—vital at Consultgenix.
- Project Management: Anaplan or Vena to assign tasks—I’ve leaned on these since PepsiCo.
Pick what fits your crew. Tools don’t replace leadership—they enhance it.
Tips for Fostering a Unified Culture
Ready to boost your team? Here’s my playbook, refined from Lehman to now:
- Set a Shared Vision: At AIG, “profitability through efficiency” was our rallying cry.
- Break the Ice: I’ve run cross-team workshops—nine at AIG, 30+ later. Connection matters.
- Clarify Roles: No overlap, no gaps. At Kemper, this saved us $35M in redundancies.
- Celebrate Wins: That $20M EBITDA bump? We toasted it—team morale soared.
- Listen and Adapt: Feedback shaped our Bogota SSC at AIG—30+ voices made it better.
This isn’t fluff—it’s what I’ve lived. At Consultgenix, we’ve applied this to clients, turning siloed groups into powerhouses.
The Human Side of Leadership
Let’s get real: Teams are people, not pawns. I’ll never forget a compliance lead at AIG who said, “Derrek, I get it now—this isn’t just numbers, it’s us.” We’d just hit our debt reduction goal, and she saw her role in it. Or a Consultgenix client who told me, “You made my team feel like a team again.”
That’s why I love this work. I’ve led nine reps to 16% sales growth, 30+ to a $54M turnaround—every time, it’s about giving people purpose. Cross-functional leadership isn’t control—it’s empowerment.
Why This Matters Now
Performance isn’t optional—it’s survival. I’ve led teams through recessions at Lehman and growth at AIG. Today, with remote work, tight deadlines, and tougher goals, silos are a luxury you can’t afford. Customers don’t care about your org chart—they want results. A unified team delivers that.
Think about your own crew. Are they pulling together—or apart? That’s where management consulting shines—building teams that win.
Let’s Elevate Your Team
Enhancing team performance isn’t a one-off—it’s a culture. With decades in management consulting, I’ve helped businesses turn groups into greatness. At Consultgenix, we’re all about collaboration that clicks—for you and your people.
If you’re ready to boost your team’s performance with cross-functional leadership, I’d love to chat. Reach out at derrek@consultgenix.com to explore your options. Let’s make your team unstoppable—together.