Cross-functional training is an approach to development that places employees in a position to learn skills and abilities that are not exercised in their current roles. Practically, it means “loaning” an employee out to another department or team, where they learn and perform the tasks of a position they don’t have any experience with.
Additionally, cross-functional training focuses on providing on-the-job experience to develop new skills and abilities. On the other hand, more traditional approaches rely on workshops or other classroom-adjacent techniques.