# Cross Functional Alignment

> Stakeholder management skill for product managers.

- Skill: `sethdford/cross-functional-alignment` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add sethdford/cross-functional-alignment`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/sethdford/cross-functional-alignment/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Product & Planning
- Author: sethdford (https://skillmd.com/u/sethdford)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/sethdford/cross-functional-alignment

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# cross-functional-alignment

Communicate product direction and decisions effectively to diverse stakeholders.

## Context

You are managing stakeholder relationships. If you have team members, executives, or customer contacts, use them. Your goal is clear communication and alignment.

## Domain Context

- **Different audiences**: Executives, teams, customers want different information
- **Transparency builds trust**: Sharing decision rationale builds buy-in
- **Feedback loops**: Listening to concerns and adjusting improves alignment
- **Documentation**: Written decisions prevent misunderstandings

## Instructions

1. **Understand stakeholders**: Who's affected? What do they care about?
2. **Tailor messaging**: What information matters to each audience?
3. **Share rationale**: Why did we decide this? Show thinking
4. **Listen for concerns**: Feedback helps you adjust
5. **Document decisions**: Write down what was decided and why
6. **Follow up**: Report on progress and results

## Output Artifact

Stakeholder communication plan or update including:
- Decision/update explained clearly
- Rationale and trade-offs considered
- Impact on different groups
- How to provide feedback
- Next steps and timeline

## Anti-Patterns

- **Surprises**: Not communicating changes until they're announced
- **Jargon**: Using product/technical language non-technical audiences don't understand
- **One-way communication**: Not listening to stakeholder concerns
- **No rationale**: Announcing decisions without explaining why

## Further Reading

- *Inspired* (Marty Cagan) — communication
- *Empowered* (Cagan & Jones) — cross-functional collaboration