Meaning ● Cross-Functional Empathy, in the context of SMB growth, signifies a keen understanding and appreciation of the diverse perspectives, challenges, and operational realities of various departments within the organization. This allows for better decision-making during automation implementation by anticipating potential roadblocks and resistance to change, especially crucial when deploying new systems that affect multiple teams in SMB operations. ● Furthermore, successful business automation hinges on aligning different departmental goals; empathy, in this context, serves as the vital lubricant ensuring team cooperation by clarifying the requirements for cross-department workflows in SMB companies.