Silos are a problem. Not the kind you see on farms (well, I guess those can have issues of their own, but that’s not what I’m talking about). I’m talking about issues with what McKeown calls linear knowledge in Effortless.
Interdisciplinary Learning
When people in an organization work in silos, they miss out on other amazing perspectives that other team members have to offer. The same thing happens when we choose just to maintain our knowledge in one area. In discussing how Charlie Munger approaches learning, McKeown writes, “Munger sees isolated facts as useless unless they ‘hang together on a latticework of theory’.” So many pieces of the invisible puzzle only fit together when you expand your view beyond just the areas you are knowledgeable in. A couple of examples:
- Daniel Kahneman won a Nobel Prize for crossing academic boundaries (psychology and economics) in his groundbreaking work on prospect theory. In Thinking Fast and Slow he talks about how challenging it was to work across disciplines.
- We recently watched Oppenheimer and noted that at least a dozen different academic disciplines were involved in the Manhattan Project, ranging from physics to project management (we are not endorsing the actions that took place with the project, but it was a huge advancement in interdisciplinary collaboration).
Broad Knowledge Benefits
Both Damien and I have worked in many industries/sectors and have found that having a broad range of knowledge is very useful. It has allowed us to see things from different perspectives and appreciate the collaboration with other disciplines. It has also helped us to see similarities across disciplines and use those similarities to approach a problem in a unique way. Broadening your knowledge helps to break down silos.
Expand Your Learning
Take some time to learn something outside of your field/industry/discipline because, as McKeown says, “Often the most useful knowledge comes from fields other than our own.” Learning something new is great for creating more wrinkles in your brain (the one place you want more wrinkles!). It can help you connect with other team members by being able to look at things from their perspective. And, it can lead to unexpected breakthroughs - the crossover of the use of the checklist from aviation to healthcare has saved countless lives (something Damien, a pilot, and I, a nurse, have discussed many times over the years).
Ponder This
- What interdisciplinary knowledge can you pursue to enhance your business or personal growth?
- How might breaking down silos lead to unexpected breakthroughs in your organization?
Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below!
Books
- Effortless - Greg McKeown
- Thinking Fast and Slow - Daniel Kahneman
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