Running your business in silos is a common symptom of larger corporations, but I’ve discovered recently that it is an attitude that runs rampant with entrepreneurs too.
What being “siloed” means is that each functional group – marketing, engineering, sales, finance, R&D, customer service – are essentially alone and separate. They don’t communicate between each other very effectively (or really at all) and, the more important concept, they don’t even consider the impact their own actions have on the other groups.
This can be a problem. A silo approach doesn’t allow for synergies of creativity or cost savings. It often causes delays and budget overruns (read less profit) when work needs to be redone to accommodate a real problem created in communication or process. It can also slow project completions, new product launches, and can even prevent a final close on a big sale because something unforeseen crops up at the last second. Not so good, right?
To avoid working in silos and risking functional group isolation (some call it “working in a vacuum”) here are some tips to help:
- Keep the lines of communication open – have a designated lead person whose job it is to facilitate the sharing of information cross functionally in your organization. It will likely need to be someone with a thick skin and a kind heart. When you can coax the truth out of someone, even when they are hesitant to share, that provides communication that has value. Sensitive issues call for an aware communicator. Find that person and task them with cross-functional representation.
- Have an “open door, honesty is the best policy, tell me the hard stuff sooner rather than later” communication and leadership approach. If you make it hard for your contractors, staff, and clients to tell you the truth, especially when it’s something you don’t particularly want to hear, they won’t.
- Develop a feedback system that incorporates all functions – a regular reporting mechanism that lets everyone see what everyone else is doing. When everyone knows that the feedback they are sharing is actionable and will be used to make improvements (and those improvements actually happen), people will be more willing to share and speak up.
- Remember the power of humor and relationships – a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down! It’s harder to be withdrawn, secretive, and unyielding with someone you’ve sung karaoke with. Encourage social glue, ways that your groups can come together that trigger their human side, and it can smooth this process. Social glue quickly becomes social lubricant as people see each others’ challenges as real, with a breathing, feeling person on the other end of it.
When you take the time to fully integrate all functions, you’ll find they can support each other in fun and interesting ways. Leverage your talent by making them talk, both amongst themselves and with you. I believe you’ll find it works wonders!
Any tips you’d like to share? You’re invited to comment below!
Together, we are stronger!
Vicki Flaugher, CEO
SmartWoman Guides
