Cross-Team Conflict – When Collaboration Becomes Collision

Most drag doesn’t come from individuals – it comes from misaligned groups.Most drag doesn’t come from individuals – it comes from misaligned groups.Most drag doesn’t come from indMost drag doesn’t come from individuals – it comes from misaligned groups.

Cross-Team Conflict – the “Interference Drag” of organisations – happens when departments pursue competing priorities or interpret strategy differently. Each means well, but their combined effort creates turbulence.

This drag sits squarely in the People Pillar of the LIFT Model – Teamwork, Capability, Trust, and Synergy. When these Dynamics weaken, collaboration turns to competition.

Common signs include:
• Blame between departments.
• Projects with shared ownership but no shared accountability.
• Rework due to missed dependencies.

The solution isn’t another meeting. It’s alignment and trust. Teams must share the same definition of success and see where their work connects to others.

Use LIFT tools like Collaboration Maps and Delivery Frameworks to clarify who owns what, how information flows, and where dependencies sit. When people see the system clearly, conflict reduces and cooperation accelerates.

Cross-functional clarity isn’t soft culture – it’s structural performance.

Ask yourself:

Are our teams optimised for cooperation – or collision?

Call to action:

Wingman’s Team Strategic Alignment Programme helps leadership groups rebuild trust, clarity, and coordination across teams. Let’s make collaboration your competitive advantage.