Smash Silos for Faster Execution
Learn how to collaborate and get buy-in across functions by exploring problems from multiple perspectives, structuring your thinking, and tailoring your communication.
90% satisfaction
This program includes
- 8 live sessions
- Workbook with tools and templates
- Manager guide for accountability
- Peer coaching and cohort-based learning
Cross-functional excellence is essential, but often messy. Teams are working toward the same goals, but struggle to stay aligned. They have to deal with:
- Conflicting priorities
- Communication gaps
- Competing perspectives
- Confusion that causes ideas to stall
Cost to the business?
When collaboration breaks down, momentum slows. Teams duplicate work, miss critical insights, and struggle to move ideas forward, leading to frustration, inefficiency, and lost opportunities.
What's missing?
The ability to explore problems from multiple angles, distill clarity from complexity, and tailor communication that builds understanding across roles.
In short, the ability to work with others through complexity to drive things forward.
Audience
Individual Contributors
Length
6-8 weeks
Cohort size
25
Price
Starting at $50,000
About this program
Participants will develop practical skills to navigate the messiness of cross-functional work over the course of three modules. They will learn to dig into root causes, make sense of competing inputs, and influence diverse stakeholders.
Skills you'll improve
- Curiosity
- Teamwork
- Communication
Syllabus
1 - Seeking Different Viewpoints
Learn how to see a problem from multiple perspectives
Time commitment:
90-minute live session + 30 minutes of pre-work
Why it matters:
Misalignment happens when we assume everyone sees the problem the same way. Without digging into what matters to others, it’s easy to focus on the wrong issue or miss the full picture.
Thinking tool:
Narrative Dialogue – a way to explore a challenge through multiple perspectives, helping you uncover assumptions and get to the deeper “why” behind any problem.
Walk away with:
The ability to ask better questions, spot blind spots, and explore what’s really going on, so you can align more effectively across teams.
Gym - Session 1
Gather multiple perspectives on a problem you’re collaborating on
Time commitment:
60-minute live session + 30 minutes of pre-work
What to expect:
Use Narrative Dialogue to unpack a real cross-functional challenge you’re facing and surface new insight with peer input.
Walk away with:
A clearer view of what’s driving your challenge and more confidence in your ability to approach problems from multiple viewpoints.
2 - Cutting Through Complexity
Learn how to structure thinking to develop a clear insight that you can share
Time commitment:
90-minute live session + 30 minutes of pre-work
Why it matters:
When input comes from all directions, it’s hard to know what matters. Without a structure, you risk analysis paralysis or fuzzy messaging.
Thinking tool:
Problem Pyramid – a bottom-up approach to sorting information that helps you surface key insights and communicate top-down with clarity.
Walk away with:
A repeatable method to distill what matters, build a strong point of view, and explain your thinking in a way that sticks.
Gym - Session 2
Apply the Problem Pyramid to develop a point of view that encourages alignment
Time commitment:
60-minute live session + 30 minutes of pre-work
What to expect:
Use the Problem Pyramid to bring clarity to a current challenge, make sense of diverse inputs, and test your thinking with the support of peers.
Walk away with:
A structured approach to organizing complexity and developing sharper insights you can stand behind.
3 - Driving Action
Learn how to capture attention and land ideas with executives
Time commitment:
90-minute live session + 30 minutes of pre-work
Why it matters:
Even well-structured ideas can fall flat if they’re not framed for your audience. In cross-functional work, tailoring your message is key to gaining support and moving forward.
Thinking tool:
Whole Brain Model – a practical framework to adjust your communication style for different thinking preferences and stakeholder needs.
Walk away with:
The ability to shape messages that resonate, whether you’re aligning with a peer, looping in a leader, or pitching a cross-functional idea.
Gym - Session 3
Tailor your message to land with cross-functional partners
Time commitment:
60-minute live session + 30 minutes of pre-work
What to expect:
Use the Whole Brain Model to craft a message that speaks to what your stakeholders care about and gets your cross-functional initiative unstuck.
Walk away with:
Clarity on your next move, and tools to frame your message for real impact.
What Participants Are Saying
The Curious Lion Experience
Zoom like you’ve never seen
Not your ordinary Zoom call
We combine storytelling, music, energizers, breakouts, and hands-on learning to create an unforgettable virtual experience.
Learn from peers across functions
Cross-functional learning provides context
Get real work done
A structured process for solving problems
Drive business outcomes
Align learning to your business strategy
Meet Your
Instructor
Andrew Barry
Founder & CEO
Andrew is an expert in learning and development, serving in executive roles at global organizations like KPMG. As the founder of Curious Lion, Andrew and his team have developed 1,000s of leaders at clients like Workday, Pinterest, IMG, and USAA, winning numerous awards for their engaging learning experiences.
John Doe
Director
Kenny is the Domain Manager for the Web Development Domain at Codecademy. He contributed to a wide range of courses and paths at Codecademy, including JavaScript, Bootstrap, Handlebars, Phaser.js, Go, Swift, TypeScript, and Lua.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this virtual?
The program is built to be virtual first, delivering a Zoom experience like you’ve never experienced before. But individual sessions can be delivered in person.
Can this be tailored?
All our programs have a minimum level of customization by our team of strategy and learning consultants. We can discuss deeper customization in our discovery calls.
What audience is this best for?
We see the most success with a cross-functional audience of experienced individual contributors transitioning to leadership and new leaders.
Why the focus on problem-solving?
The core challenge of leadership is not having all the answers. It’s having the right questions. This mindset is at the heart of problem-solving. We teach new and aspiring leaders how to synthesize multiple perspectives into a strategic narrative and communicate clearly to diverse stakeholders.