Breaking down silos: A journey from functional distance to collaborative accountability

Abstract

Silos or behaviours that disconnect people from others within their organisation can play a key role
in the overall performance of companies, especially large businesses. This paper explains how to
review current silos, address or minimise challenges within them, and create employee engagement
and collaborative accountability. There are many types, but three significant silos to avoid and
address include physical, organisational and experiential silos. Once silos are identified, ‘broken
down’, or minimised, leaders often declare victory and are surprised to see them return. By aligning
goals and establishing a culture of collaborative accountability, engaged leaders can maintain better
communication and connections across teams and functions to ensure the broader organisation
continues moving forward together in pursuing broader business strategy. All these pieces together
help create optimal performance and deliver top results.