The best ideas win.

You rarely find the best solutions by working alone at your desk. They usually come when you bring together different perspectives.

If you’re facing a tough problem, try reaching out to a colleague from a different department. For example, if you’re working on a marketing project, ask someone in tech for their opinion. Working with people from other teams helps you find well-rounded solutions and catch details you might otherwise miss.

Including others helps you see the bigger picture. As you advance in your career, your success may rely on bringing different departments together and making sure everyone’s voice is heard.

Working across teams also means supporting others during meetings. If you notice someone’s good idea gets ignored or a teammate is talked over, speak up and bring attention back to them. For example, you could say, “I really liked the point Sarah made earlier; can we talk more about that?” This helps create a culture where the best ideas are heard and builds trust among the team.

Put these approaches into practice.

Let’s look at practical ways to seek out diverse perspectives before finalizing a solution.