In today’s era, career growth is no longer linear. Even while upskilling oneself, a vertical approach within a single job function will not ensure continuous growth. Rather, only by skilling oneself by understanding functions beyond one’s own domain can one ensure professional growth.
At the outset, it is important to differentiate between cross-functional learning and cross-functional skilling. The former relates to an active and in-depth learning of a function beyond one’s own, along with a proper understanding of all nuances. This is not practically possible, as areas of learning are becoming more specialised and niched.
However, cross-functional skills entail developing a working knowledge of all areas of the business, especially the roles, goals and needs of the various departments. This is entirely possible, and is in fact, necessary at the top levels. For instance, leaders at the senior management, will have cross-functional skills and working knowledge of all areas of the business. That is how they become capable of steering the company towards a profitable goal.