Building Confidence and Insight Through Cross-Training

Division of labor is great— it lets us focus on our specialties, which is efficient and, in many cases, necessary. But today, I’d like to share the benefits of stepping outside our specialties to gain a breadth of experience, a skill-building practice that enriches both professional and personal life.

The Key Benefits of Cross-Training

·       Versatility – Broadening your skills means you can step in where needed, whether in the workplace or at home, making you adaptable and valuable to any team.

·       Perspective – Firsthand experience in a role helps us understand the challenges and skills others bring to the table, which is invaluable in managing both people and projects.

·       Challenge Assumptions – Tasks we avoid or underestimate can surprise us. Cross-training often reveals that some “difficult” jobs are easier than we thought and that some “simple” ones require patience, skill, and resilience.

·       Empowerment – Trying new tasks, no matter how small, can give us a sense of pride and self-assurance that ripples into all areas of life.

The Professional Advantage of Breadth

Growing up in family business, I had the opportunity to work across roles—learning enough to step in where needed and, more importantly, gaining insight into each role's unique challenges. The versatility made me valuable to the team and the breadth of experience made me a better leader, able to anticipate impacts on different parts of the business and understand how all the moving pieces fit together.

During a college internship with Walt Disney World, I was able to cross-train in multiple departments. Working in multiple areas, and with different coworkers and managers gave me a richer understanding of the company and made me a more valuable team member, ready to jump in as needed. And personally, I learned skills and perspective to carry forward in my life. 

Cross-Training at Home

In our home lives, too, we often fall into patterns of who does what.  This person takes out the trash, and this person makes the lunches.  And further, as a professional, it can often make financial sense to hire out tasks around the house instead of spending hours researching and executing something new.   While these may be the more efficient choices, there are times where cross-training, or doing tasks that we haven’t historically been in charge of, is valuable to our families, our skill sets, and our self-esteem. 

This past year, I’ve made a huge effort to learn how to do more around the house.  Things I’d never been in charge of before – changing the furnace filters, mowing the lawn, winterizing the sprinklers, trouble-shooting the broken appliances.  And my personal experience?  I feel a huge sense of pride having a greater understanding of how to take care of a home. 

The next time you have a chance to try something outside your usual scope, consider giving it a go. You may just find that you’re more versatile—and empowered—than you thought.

With warmth,
Amy