Breaking Down Siloed Thinking: Strategies for Better Business Outcomes

Why Context Matters

Let me share a real-life example. I once consulted with a manager who wanted to improve the quality of their deliverables. They decided to track the number of defects assigned to each team member, assuming it would reveal who was cutting corners. They created a dashboard showcasing individual defect counts.

But here’s the thing: defect counts alone don’t provide the necessary context. Does it really matter how many defects are detected if the release isn’t happening anytime soon? Are all defects equally critical? Should a significant feature be delayed because of minor layout issues?

By focusing on individual defect counts, the organization inadvertently encouraged hiding data related to defects instead of fostering a culture of transparency and collaboration. The result? Negative customer feedback persisted, and quality suffered.

We must connect our metrics back to the outcomes we want to achieve. When we track individual metrics, we push people to behave in ways that may not align with the team’s success. We force them to choose between personal success and what’s best for the team. Collaboration and helping one another often fall by the wayside.

Steps to Break Free from Siloed Mindset

So, how do we break free from siloed thinking and promote collaboration? It starts by striving not to put individuals in positions where they have to make choices that benefit themselves but harm the team. Every metric we implement should be carefully evaluated to ensure it doesn’t threaten the team’s unity or encourage counterproductive actions.

Rather than solely tracking individual performance, focus on flow metrics that measure the overall performance of the workflow. This way, team members can see the bigger picture and understand how their contributions impact the team’s success. Encourage and recognize collaborative efforts, such as helping one another and swarming on work in progress.

Remember, the goal is to create an environment where everyone feels empowered to work together and prioritize collective success over individual achievements. By aligning our metrics with the organization’s goals, we can foster cooperation, innovation, and shared success.

Starting tomorrow morning, you can take a simple action to promote collaboration and break free from siloed thinking. Instead of solely tracking individual performance metrics, focus on implementing a measurement system that’s directly connected to your business outcomes.