Recently, the new CEO of a global consumer entertainment company decided that integrating the company’s distinct brands into one digital platform was a key strategy for future growth. He asked the dozen executives leading each brand to create a plan together for how to make it a reality. The team met several times. The CEO was looking forward to hearing their recommendations in a meeting he’d set up to get started. However, he was in for a rude awakening.
How to Lead Across a Siloed Organization
Many leaders learned how to navigate vertical hierarchies — but not how to collaborate with peers who have different agendas, motivations, and priorities.
January 11, 2024
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Summary.
It’s long been recognized that cross-functional collaboration is essential. Still, stubborn silos that bog down execution, hamper innovation, and slow decision-making are still a common and persistent challenge. In their work with company leaders, the authors have found that, without leaders working together at the top, silos and dysfunction are inevitable. The onus is therefore on senior leaders to knock down these silos — moving beyond their ability to lead their own teams to also prioritize leading across the organization. The authors discuss what sets successful cross-functional leaders apart.