Leadership
Is Your Workplace Silo or Collaborative?
Did you know the word Silo originated from the Greek word Siros which meant corn pit? The noun form refers to a storage container that was airtight in structure. However, the verb form refers to isolation between two different entities, in this context we use two departments of an organization. So let’s drill down the isolation bit and understand the impact of the corporate silo.
How does one identify if the silo mentality exists?
- the feeling of us vs them
- duplicating efforts
- high peer to peer competition and
- communication flows via only one route
- poor customer experience
- not knowing anyone outside the team
- disengaged and confused employees
- inefficiency in ways of working due to lack of understanding of the big picture
Did you spot any of the above behaviours?
Great things in business are never done by one person. — Steve Jobs
In order for collaboration to take place, leaders must give up their SILOs through their perception of power and authority. They must sow the seeds of approachability, psychological safety & transparency where people can experiment with their innovations, fail safely, and share their experiences across wider groups. Through such learning and sharing, we create an ocean of opportunities to grow and develop. And once you strike the chord of connectedness and engagement, you no longer need pool tables and beer taps to attract the crowd. Thus, your organization thrives, the goals align and the values are no longer mere wall art.
In this era of better computers, better sciences, and better research, why is it so difficult to move through the barriers even through advanced technology and communication techniques?
Food for thought:
- As a leader, how do you prevent a Silo mentality?
- What steps are you taking to foster collaboration?
- What are your barriers? Did you identify any?
- How well do you know your colleagues from a different floor or department?
- Has remote working impacted your culture?
Competition makes us go faster, collaboration makes us better. The question is, are we ready to be better?
And if you have made allies and built your network through collaboration, well, congratulations, you have created the real asset a kingdom can have!
If you loved this article, how about sharing it with your friends and colleagues too? And if you would like to support me further, join Medium today. By using my referral link or buying me a Coffee, you support me in continuing to write & share on this platform.
Thank You for helping me pursue my writing passion!
