From Silo to Network: 10 Steps to Break Down Silos, Part 3

Let's conclude our 10-step review of how to break down silos in any enterprise. This includes encouraging trust and open communication, setting measurable goals, and planning to iterate and improve (and more!)

Like the ideas here but not sure where to start? I can help. This is what I do: I help organizations build omnichannel CX from the inside out. Contact me for: giving a talk, running a workshop, assisting with strategy, evaluation and platform selection, and working alongside your teams. =>Let's talk.

Breaking down silos isn’t something that happens overnight—it takes a clear plan and some serious commitment. But the good news is, it’s totally doable with the right approach. Below are the last 4 steps in a 10-step process to systematically dismantle those pesky silos and build a more connected, collaborative organization. Let’s continue to dive into the steps you need to take to make this happen:

7. Encourage Open Communication and Trust

No collaboration can survive without trust and open communication. Create spaces—both virtual and physical—where teams can come together, share ideas, and hash out problems. Trust is built when communication is transparent, consistent, and valued. If people are too afraid to speak up, silos will remain intact.

What to keep in mind: Trust takes time to build and can be destroyed quickly. Encourage transparency at all levels and make sure employees know that their contributions are valued, even if it means challenging the status quo.

How to measure success: Look for more cross-departmental communication, fewer misunderstandings, and increased collaboration. If teams are openly sharing information and ideas, you’re building trust.

Open communication and trust are the cornerstones of collaboration. Success is when teams communicate openly and trust each other to work together toward shared goals.        

8. Set Measurable Goals and Metrics

If you don’t measure it, how do you know it’s working? Set clear, measurable goals for your collaboration efforts. Develop key performance indicators (KPIs) that track the impact of breaking down silos—whether it’s faster project completion, improved customer satisfaction, or better employee engagement.

What to keep in mind: Goals should be realistic, clear, and tied to your overall vision. Don’t overload teams with too many KPIs—focus on what really matters for collaboration and integration.

How to measure success: Success is when you’re hitting those KPIs consistently. Teams should be meeting (or exceeding) their collaboration goals, and the data should reflect a real improvement in how departments work together.

Measurable goals keep you focused and accountable. Success is when your KPIs show real progress toward breaking down silos and improving collaboration.        

9. Leverage Employee Insights and Ideas

Your employees are the ones living and breathing the day-to-day challenges of silos, so why not ask them for solutions? Create formal channels for gathering employee insights and ideas for improving collaboration. Encourage a culture where innovation and feedback are welcomed and acted upon.

What to keep in mind: It’s not enough to ask for feedback—you need to act on it. Employees will quickly stop sharing ideas if they feel like nothing happens with their input.

How to measure success: Success is when employees are actively sharing ideas, and those ideas are leading to real changes in the organization. If innovation is increasing and employees feel empowered, you’re winning.

Leverage the insights of your employees—they know the issues best. Success is when employee-driven ideas lead to meaningful improvements in collaboration and workflow.        

10. Monitor, Evaluate, and Iterate

Breaking down silos is not a one-and-done deal. You need to regularly monitor your progress, evaluate what’s working (and what’s not), and adjust as needed. Collect feedback, analyze data, and continuously tweak your strategies to keep the momentum going.

What to keep in mind: Be flexible. What works today might not work tomorrow. Stay open to feedback and be ready to pivot when necessary.

How to measure success: Success is when collaboration becomes second nature in your organization. Regularly hit your goals and see continuous improvement in cross-departmental collaboration. If you’re not backsliding into old siloed habits, you’re on the right track.

Monitor, evaluate, and iterate to ensure sustained progress. Success is when collaboration becomes ingrained in the company culture, and silos stay a thing of the past.        

That's it! We covered all 10 steps. Now, in the next edition, we're going to talk about setting goals and supporting strategies to make this happen. Until then, let's keep networking and stop... siloing :)

In the weeks that follow, this series will strive to provide executives, leaders, and aspiring leaders with a comprehensive guide to transforming their organizations from siloed entities into cohesive, networked systems. Through actionable steps, real-world examples, and strategic insights, you will learn how to create an environment where collaboration flourishes, and every team member is empowered to contribute to the organization's success. By placing vision, purpose, and measurable goals at the center of your network, you can unlock the full potential of your organization and achieve sustained growth and innovation.

Let's keep this conversation going

Like the ideas here but not sure where to start? I can help. This is what I do: I help organizations build omnichannel CX from the inside out. Contact me for: giving a talk, running a workshop, assisting with strategy, evaluation and platform selection, and working alongside your teams. =>Let's talk.