Disney has very strategic reasons for cross-training its employees, but the practice could apply to any organization looking to improve its workplace culture.
Cross-training at the Disney company is more than a discipline—it’s a mandate. Cast members, as Disney’s employees are called, are regularly moved around the company. They shift teams, units, divisions, parks, and even locations. Unlike other organizations that may place employees in different positions to increase skills or support career advancement, at Disney, it’s part of everyday workplace culture. Cross-training also sets Disney apart as a unique employer that is willing to disrupt the status quo and rethink what is possible. By moving employees around, the company instills these valued behaviors in its cast members, as well.
