The Silo Effect

It used to be that only farms had silos. In reality, that is still the case. According to Webster's New World Dictionary, the silo is an airtight tower inwhich green fodder was stored . Now what we store in these biz silos is fodder for those who ridicule the buzzwords of business which, on occasion, I've been known to do. But the silo metaphor has validity as it's a tower that has stored something valuable. In today's terms, that means people, the human capital, of the corporate and association worlds. When we keep people in their individual towers/silos, or they stay in their sectors voluntarily, we lose the benefit of brain power that comes from cross-pollination of people in different departments, disciplines or divisions. Ergo we do not benefit from the diverse talents, interests, expertise of others. What a shame! What a waste!

Several clients requested that I address the "silo" issue as part of my "how to work a room, savvy networking, knowing what to say next" communication presentations in order to help them build internal bonds and business relationships. Apparently, we have too many non-ivory Towers of NO Babel in the workplace. I'm there to make sure that conversations increase. Out of those conversations emerge creativity, solutions and sales.

It starts small and can be as easy as smiling and saying "good morning/hello" at the elevator or water fountain. Connecting face- to -face with people in our workplace goes a long way to creating a comfortable work environment, team spirit and company loyalty.

So, don't be a Silo Solo.... go to the Water Cooler or Capuccino Machine and make conversation!

Comments

[Dr Masoom]

i am interested in silo for fodder will u help me

[True Religion Outlet]

So, don't be a Silo Solo.... go to the Water Cooler or Capuccino Machine and make conversation!

[Kenta]

A Generous-Giver okay, this one is specific to wnkriog at a church, but I would never work for a church where I didn t believe in it enough to give as much as I possibly could. I like the list, but I have found in my experience that {Generious Giver} this attitude in a church work environment is strongly abused. I no longer have the freedom to "give", I must give my work hours and then volunteer more time on top of that, not based on where I like to serve, but where my supervisor wants the most work done. This changes it from being giving to being unpaid overtime. I agree that as a Christian, I should give to the church, but somewhere we need to break the abuse of "requiring" workers to "volunteer" instead of paying for their time or giving them option to actually volunteer where and how they choose.

[Ryan]

Funny thing about thoughts is that they come at the most plueciar moments, in this case while I'm studying for my final that is in 30 minutes. I had a thought about silos while I was thinking about professors and their teaching methods. Even though every professor is within one silo there is still a disconnection that exist. For example, one professor that has taught for many years has accumulated many years of experience and methods to make teaching more efficient and as a result produce higher quality students. However, there is such a disconnect between some professors in the same department because of a lack of communication or thinking that their method is better than the other professors. This only results in spikes when it comes to results after a semester is over. Just a thought.