Collaboration between departments has to mean more than cooperation. It requires a shared view of the processes involved, a shared focus on the customer’s experience at every point of contact, assertive communication, a high degree of empathy, and a real understanding of both your own communication style and that of the person in front of you. Organizations that build this eliminate communication failures, raise the success rate of cross-functional projects, reduce silo behaviour, and materially improve the odds on any change programme.