Business Silos And Leadership Development
Now more than ever, one of the most important aspects an organization needs to succeed is communication. Business silos can be an asset to some companies, but not all. If your company is developing silos, they can be harmful to progress and efficiency.Increasing productivity means harnessing those silos through leadership. People need to learn not only to communicate effectively but why it’s important.Communication isn’t something that comes easy to some people, so hands-on practice is the best way to train your employees.
Recognizing and Eliminating Silos
A business silo happens when certain people, sectors or departments don’t pass on a certain aspect or all of the information they have. This can happen due to several different reasons.People may not feel the information they have is important or relevant to other sections of the organization.It can happen if people don’t fully understand what happens in other sections of the company. They may feel the information is simply meant for them only.It can also happen if people are feeling competitive or threatened by another department or team. They might feel that hanging on to the information gives them a bit more power and an upper edge for success.Whatever the reason, unless it is important for the different departments not to know what others are doing, silos are almost always damaging to an organization.It slows progress and decreases efficiency. It can cause people to make mistakes, it can make extra work for some, and there may be duplications of things where they are not needed.This wasted time and costs companies a lot of wasted money. Silos almost always start from the top and move down. This means the fault lies with the management and the leaders.Therefore it is up to the leaders to eliminate these silos and get everyone on the right track to success. A company's best hope for success is having everyone aiming for the same objective.
Eliminating Silos
Recognizing that there are silos in your organization is the first step to stopping them. You may not make these discoveries until some big changes happen at work.Often, when someone new takes over a leadership position, they approach with a fresh view and notice problems where no one saw them before. When ‘old school’ leaders move on, there are bound to change.
New Vision
Business is changing in many ways, from the workforce to how the work is done to advancing technology. Now, more than ever, it is vital for people to be on the same path for success. That means their own success as well as the company’s survival.Getting everyone to see the big picture includes them being able to see the smaller, individual pictures, as well. This means redefining the individual goals of each employee and then showing them how those goals fit in with the organization’s ultimate goal.The most important part is getting everyone to understand and accept the vision. People need to have a full understanding of how their contributions help move the company forward. They must also understand the contributions of all the other team members, as well.
Education and Communication
One of the most effective ways to open the channels of communication for people to understand its importance. One of the best ways to do that is to show them. People understand lessons better by doing them.Just as silos of communication develop, people can believe they function in a vacuum. They need to be aware of how all the positions come together to reach the same goal. Letting people test drive these jobs gives them incredible insight into them.Working together with an understanding of what each team member does is the best way for people to break down the barriers that block communication. Cross company workshops, job share, work shadowing and work simulations are growing in popularity because they work.
Hands-on Learning
Training and development aren’t just for new recruits and this with high potential for moving into leadership roles. It’s a necessary and vital tool for staying relevant and ahead of the competition. Business Simulations for leadership development and corporate training simulations are great tools for relevant employee development.More companies are employing business simulation for education and training. It’s the perfect method for people to get hands-on experience without the risk of failure or other repercussions.Working their way through many different scenarios that are an everyday occurrence in your organization helps people understand the bigger picture and how the company functions.It bridges the gaps that are left when senior staff retires, when technology takes over from analog and when new hires have a degree but little else in the way of soft skills. It works across the board and opens up a dialog between departments.Communication SkillsIn order to avoid the recurrence of silos, communication must be encouraged. This can be meetings, briefs, dialogs and team-building workshops. A brainstorming session once a week lets everyone express ideas which can lead to efficiency and problem-solving.From discussing customer concerns to IT issues, the company will run far more efficiently with everyone understanding and encouraging each other. The objects are simple. The success of the company, the success of the self.Open communication needs practice and people can't practice it in the mirror at home. There are apps, virtual games and board games for business simulation. People can work on them in groups, on their own or under the supervision of their manager.Silo MentalityBreaking the silo mentality is necessary for an effective company. Competition is stronger than ever and more and more organizations are depending on technology to complete a lot of work. But you still need manpower and that manpower needs to be heard.Generation gaps and pay grade gaps don’t have to mean communication gaps. Engaging your employees in business simulation builds morale. Breaks down barriers and lets people have fun while they learn.Safe, educational and being used more and more, likely by your competition. Getting your team to work together in harmony and understanding may seem like a tall task, but it can be done. It must be done.As a friendly reminder, business simulations for corporate training are great tools to help reduce business silos. Leadership development simulations are often used within corporate leadership development programs to help apply training content.