Modern Business Magazine July 2016 | Page 11

MODERN MANAGEMENT assumes ownership for building a collaborative organisation, its unlikely to happen. Support your CEO to understand the role they need to play and steps they can take to break down silos and better leverage their team. Keep in mind failure to date doesn’t necessarily indicate a lack of desire or good intention on their part. Executive. Help them to understand a united and collaborative approach across this group is essential to setting the example needed. Support the CEO to recognise behaviours across the group that need to change in order to build a truly great team. 2 3 Focus on the Senior Leadership team When members of the Executive Team recognise their duty is to the organisation as a whole, silos are unlikely to form or be tolerated. Encourage your senior leadership team to place first order priority on being an effective member of the Drive Culture Manage mindset Silos are created by an individualistic mindset. That is, one in which people are largely if not solely focused on their own objectives. As psychological scientist Daphna Oyserman explains, for people who think that way “Institutions and relationships are just backdrops to individual striving.” Leaders who operate in and encourage silos are those motivated by personal achievement. Therefore they measure success on what they and the people they are directly responsible for are able to achieve. 4 Set clear expectations Define what it means in your organisation to behave collaboratively and with a spirit of cooperation. Work with leaders and members of your team to clearly articulate what successful behaviours look like and those considered undesirable. Take the time to ensure every member of your team understands what is expected of him or her. Ensure also July 2016 ModernBusiness 11