A Shared Purpose Breaks Down Siloes

Does it feel sometimes like your people spend more time battling each other than they do the competition? This is silo behavior. Turf wars. In essence: Cross-function dysfunction. It is “us” versus “them” or “floor” versus “office.” Call it what you want, but at the end of the day it is simply cross-functional waste. We usually tolerate these little flare-ups as nuisances that occur naturally among people (i.e. “Oh, they just don’t get along. No big deal.”). In reality, they create real disruptions that result in real drama and headaches. If you want to put an end to this cross-functional behavior, look to your managers and supervisors from top to bottom. Instead of looking at those who create silo behavior, look at those who break down walls. What do they do that resonates with people?