Have you ever found yourself on a team where, despite everyone’s expertise and good intentions, things just didn’t gel?
It’s a common scenario in many workplaces: team members, driven by a strong sense of individual roles, get in their lane and start swimming. They look at teamwork through a “Divide and Conquer” lens, and they work in silos as they attempt to get the job done.
But silos create new problems!
In a study of 100 global businesses conducted by Roland Berger, nearly 80% of the respondents indicated that “strongly pronounced” silos are detrimentally affecting their company’s costs, innovation potential, culture, and profitability.
Silos increase operational costs due to inefficiencies and duplicated efforts, hinder the company’s ability to respond quickly to market changes, reduce overall competitiveness, and damage the organizational culture.
What is the source of all of this siloing?
I believe it comes down to one simple thing – a lack of consideration in our teams.
Inconsiderate Teams Create Silos
Inconsiderate behavior leads to inconsiderate teams that get stuck in silos.
When team members don’t pay enough attention to each other’s needs and perspectives, they seek the comfort of like-minded people. They end up building small cliques and kingdoms and cut themselves off from the rest of the organization.
This happens when people focus too much on their own needs and tasks without considering how they fit into the bigger picture. They hold on to information, hoard resources, and generally don’t communicate with others outside their immediate circle.
This way of working obviously causes a lot of problems but the biggest problems are the human ones. Isolation and division breed mistrust and resentment. Team moral declines and makes collaboration almost impossible.
As silos deepen, the emotional disconnect becomes more pronounced, leaving team members feeling undervalued and misunderstood. This stifles individual motivation and leads to increased turnover as employees seek more cohesive and supportive work environments.
I cannot emphasize enough how substantial the human costs associated with inconsiderate behavior can be. There are stunning statistics about the poor state of mental health in the workplace, and inconsiderate teams are undoubtedly a factor.
Inconsiderate teams have a detrimental effect on everyone, and it is a problem we need to address.
Creating Considerate Teams
Creating considerate teams is about fostering an environment where mutual respect, open communication, and a deep understanding of one another’s roles and contributions are the norm, not the exception. A considerate team is one where each member is actively engaged in both the project at hand and in maintaining a supportive group dynamic. This kind of team isn’t just about getting tasks done; it’s about creating a culture where every individual feels valued, heard, and integral to the collective success.
Consideration in teams manifests in several key behaviors.
First, it involves actively thinking about and responding to the needs, feelings, and contributions of fellow team members. This isn’t limited to just being polite; it’s about being genuinely aware of how your actions and decisions impact everyone else in the group. It’s about seeing beyond your individual tasks to the broader picture, understanding how your work affects others, and adjusting your actions accordingly.
Second, consideration means anticipating the needs of the project and your colleagues. This proactive approach ensures that team efforts are cohesive and that potential issues are addressed before they become problems. By foreseeing and planning for the needs of the project and team members, a considerate team can operate more smoothly and efficiently.
Finally, creating a considerate team means fostering an environment where the collective success of the group is as important as individual achievements. This environment encourages team members to support each other’s growth and success, leading to a more cohesive and productive team.
Conclusion
In today’s fast-paced business world, having considerate teams makes all the difference. When team members aren’t considerate, they end up working in silos, which leads to wasted time, higher costs, and less innovation. On a personal level, it makes people feel isolated and unappreciated, hurting team morale, and driving good employees away.
Building a considerate team is an investment worth making. When team members think about how their actions affect others, anticipate each other’s needs, and focus on the team’s success instead of just their own, everyone wins.
If you want to break down the silos that slow things down and build a team that works well together schedule a meeting to discuss how we can build considerate teams in your organization.
