May 21, 2019
In this episode we cover three things.
- The Wisdom Silos
- The Danger of Silos
- How to Use Teamwork to Win the Battle Against Silos
Inspiration for this episode comes from Chapter Five, “Cover and Move”, of “Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALS Lead and Win”, by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin.
What is a silo?
An isolated grouping, department or team that functions apart from others.
1. The Wisdom of Silos
Breaking down into different function and different projects allows for
- Concentration… leading to higher productivity
- Consistency… each day I know what I’m doing and what’s required
- Accountability… I know who to go to when issues occur etc.
Which leads to higher performance (safety, quality, speed)
But you have to realize that intentionally or unintentionally the silos can create challenges that hinder the overall effectiveness of the team….
2. The Danger of Silos
- Us vs. them
- Long term grudges
- Hoarding resources
- Refusing to communicate
- Rejoicing when something goes wrong (The enemy is not within)
- Myopia or shortsightedness
- distant objects blurry, close objects clear
- It’s not intentional
- Not understanding the needs of the other parties
- Miss out on opportunities to
improve
- Not sharing information
- Not working together
- Not understanding one another
3. How to use teamwork to win the battle against silos:
- Above all realize that it starts with the leadership
- Establish and communicate a Clear mission and vision for the
company, each department and each project
See Episode 10: How to Clarify Your Company Vision (And Why It’s Vital to Your Success) | Ep 10 - Map out your organization structure and develop Peer to Peer Relationships
- Establish tours of duty for aspiring leaders
- Have the senior leaders “show their faces” in different places
- In executive meetings: Allow advocacy but come to an agreement
- Don’t air dirty laundry with outside parties
- Watch your personal bias
- Don’t allow “step-children”
- Stay humble
Leading a Construction Company is Challenging
It is common for construction company owners like yourself to struggle with getting each employee contributing equally to your organization's success.
Despite your best intentions, it's tough for you to find time to break down the silos that exist in your business between the field and the office, and to get everyone to take accountability for the production, quality, and safety goals of each project.
These issues not only create stress and frustration for you, they cost you money.
I have worked with construction company owners for over fifteen years, and have developed a short assessment which will quickly identify the specific leadership areas you need to work on.
To take the assessment click this link: https://www.ericanderton.com/construction-leadership-assessment/