Author and leadership expert Michael Watkins describes culture as an organization’s “immune system.” Like the human immune system, a strong operating culture protects companies from harm. Built on a foundation of realistic goals and common priorities, it helps a company and its people thrive—ensuring resource allocation is standard, and employees aren’t over-allocated. Put simply, it focuses on end-to-end work across the company’s horizontal dimension—not on the parts inside functions.

Understand True Collaboration

Observe a typical meeting within your organization. Is a leader co-creating with others, actively engaging them in the planning or decision-making process, or simply collecting inputs so she can create a plan or make a decision on her own?

There's a major difference between the two.

Let's take a look at some of the most common collaboration mishaps.

What do you picture when you hear the words "collaborative leadership"?

• Is it a leader who figures everything out and then gets input from the team?
• Is it a painful process of trying to get everyone in a room to agree to something?
• Is it a bureaucratic process that takes too long? 

If so, then you've haven't seen true collaborative leadership in the works!

Our Matrix Management 2.0™ Team Accountability Chart is a simple tool for documenting both team and individual accountability. It eliminates micro-managing and empowers team members to understand exactly what they’re accountable for.

— By Cathy Cassidy, Managing Director, Matrix Management Institute

Plan smart

And, here are two tips to get you started…

Before we discuss tips, there are two essentials every leader needs to know about leading and managing a matrix:

—By Cathy Cassidy, Managing Director, International Matrix Management Institute

7 Tips for Leading Cross-Functional Projects

It usually falls on the shoulders of the project leader to lead teams that are cross-functional within an organization that is aligned functionally. These seven tips will help you define and create alignment to cross-functional team goals without needing authority.