A venture company president established an environment that encouraged open dialogue to foster an honest organizational culture, yet soon after, the company’s structure fell apart. Honesty can often be painful. To minimize the hurt caused by honesty, it is crucial to consider who delivers the message. In other words, if a respected individual speaks candidly, people are likely to feel less discomfort. Organizations can falter if honesty is prioritized over a culture of respect. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”
The phenomenon where an organization prioritizes self-interest over cooperation between departments is called the silo effect. A silo refers to a chimney-shaped grain storage warehouse, named for its high, stacked walls that isolate it from the outside. If someone controlled the opening by creating only one funnel-shaped outlet at the bottom of the storage room, they could monopolize the grain. This phenomenon often arises when there are ‘irreplaceable talented individuals’ in an organization, which presents a challenge for a boss desiring to develop such individuals. It undermines all the positive functions of the organization. Exceptional individuals organize their impressive performance so that the organization can sustain that performance even in their absence. Misusing talent can ruin a business. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”