Leading across Silos

Accountability without Authority. A report from the Lets Talk session on 20th May 2025. Moderated by John Faulkes.

Below you will find the slides from the session, and an AI transcript of conversations.

Leading across Silos May 25.pdf

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·       Session introduction: Claude introduced the session and welcomed John Faulkes as the moderator, highlighting his extensive experience in cross-functional team effectiveness, leadership development and partnership working.

• Introduction: John introduced himself and mentioned his affiliations with PIPMG, Phetairos, and his own organization, PMLD. He emphasized the importance of discussing silo culture and the need for a collaborative discussion.

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• Roots of Silo Culture: John explained the origins of silo culture, emphasizing multidisciplinary approaches and the tendency for groups to become inward-looking. He identified systemic, elitist, and protectionist silos as common types.

  • Origins of Silo Culture: John explained that silo culture often originates from multidisciplinary approaches where specialists focus on their specific roles, leading to inward-looking groups.

  • Systemic Silos: John described systemic silos as groups that naturally form within organizations due to like-minded disciplines working together, eventually becoming inward-looking and less communicative with other groups.

  • Elitist Silos: John identified elitist silos as groups that perceive themselves as superior due to their importance to the business, leading to information hoarding and adverse effects on other groups.

  • Protectionist Silos: John discussed protectionist silos, where groups feel threatened by downsizing or outsourcing and unconsciously act to protect themselves by withholding information.

• Poll Results and Discussion: John shared the results of the first poll, highlighting issues such as functions taking project decisions, lack of understanding between functions, and partial team participation. Mike and Miriam shared their experiences and insights on these topics.

  • Poll Results: John shared the results of the first poll, which highlighted issues such as functions taking project decisions, lack of understanding between functions, and partial team participation.

  • Mike's Experience: Mike shared his experience with a project where the chief scientist and physician had different understandings of the project's objectives, leading to conflicts. They resolved it by clarifying the objectives and understanding the risks involved.

  • Miriam's Insights: Miriam emphasized the importance of setting up governance, team composition, and communication plans from the beginning of a project to avoid issues related to silo culture. She highlighted the need for clear roles and responsibilities.

• Strategies to Overcome Challenges: John presented the second poll results, focusing on strategies like one-team approaches, influencing function heads, and agreeing on roles and expectations. Ashley and Alec shared their experiences in dealing with silos in small organizations.

  • Second Poll Results: John presented the results of the second poll, which focused on strategies to overcome silo challenges, such as one-team approaches, influencing function heads, and agreeing on roles and expectations.

  • Ashley's Approach: Ashley discussed her approach to addressing silos in a small biotech company by having one-on-one meetings with key individuals and using emotional intelligence to understand their perspectives and integrate them into the project.

  • Alec's Strategy: Alec shared his approach to involving other departments in a long-term R&D project by presenting the project's importance and encouraging their participation. He emphasized the need for internal messaging and building a RACI matrix.

• Communication and Governance: Miriam emphasized the importance of setting up governance, team composition, and communication plans from the beginning of a project to avoid issues related to silo culture.

• Individual Approaches: Ashley discussed her approach to addressing silos in a small biotech company by having one-on-one meetings with key individuals and using emotional intelligence to understand their perspectives.

• Cultural Impact on Collaboration: Mike highlighted the importance of culture in project teams, sharing his positive experience with a collaborative and open team at AstraZeneca.

• Internal Messaging: Alec shared his approach to involving other departments in a long-term R&D project by presenting the project’s importance and encouraging their participation.

• Political Divide in the Workplace: Ashley raised the issue of dealing with stark political divides in the workplace, especially in the vaccine space, and sought advice on managing this challenge.

• Closing Remarks: Claude thanked everyone for their participation and announced the next session topic on June 17th, "When Things Go Wrong: Working with Service Providers."

Any questions? Please get in touch: claude.houet@phetairos.com or John.faulkes@pipmg.org