Silos? … We Don’t Need No Stinking Silos!

Over the past few years, many of us at Imagine! have teamed up to recognize that we would benefit from fewer silos.



Can’t see the video? Click here.

Of course, I’m not speaking of literal silos such as in the video above. I’m talking about the tendencies among the various groups to develop silos around their work duties, focusing only on what they do and missing opportunity available from a larger perspective. In a company as big and diverse as Imagine!, it is not surprising that a silo mentality creeps in. After all, when people are working closely with others, focused on personal outcomes, small teams can produce remarkable results.

On the other hand, keeping a balanced perspective, and a shared larger vision, we can learn a great deal from one another. We can avoid redundancies, realize greater influence, and discover solutions that we might otherwise miss. By integrating IT knowledge, communication and collaboration, public relations, and shared human resources, we collectively gain strength.

I am pleased to report cross departmental cooperation at Imagine! has eliminated duplicate efforts, improved communication, and enhanced our ability to serve individuals with a variety of intellectual and developmental disabilities. Employees at every level of Imagine! have recognized that greater understanding and collaboration between departments is good for those we serve, and have taken action to build bridges instead of silos so expertise can be shared company-wide.

I’m proud of the fact that the landscape at Imagine! is changing . You never know what you might discover behind a silo after it tumbles.

Then again, what do I know?