Silos, Politics, and Turf Wars

By: Patrick Lencioni

Narrated by: Eric Conger

Length: 3 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's summary

"Silos" are organizations' vertical structures—but the word has become synonymous with barriers to workplace effectiveness and connotes deep political infighting. Silos devastate organizations, kill productivity, push good people out the door, and jeopardize the achievement of corporate goals. They cause stress, exasperation, and disappointment by forcing employees to fight bloody, unwinnable battles with people who should be teammates.

Like his other fables, SILOS, POLITICS, AND TURF WARS is fiction in realistic form, involving not one, but three organizations, all struggling to eliminate their silos and bridge a sense of alignment back in place.

©2006 Patrick Lencioni (P)2006 Audio Renaissance, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishers, LLC

Critic reviews

Audie Award Finalist, Business Information/Education, 2007

"Lencioni's proposal is so full of common sense...that managers will be eager to apply it themselves. Just as refreshing is Lencioni's use of character and plot, which is far above average for the business genre." (Publishers Weekly)

Simplistic Solutions to Complex Problems

Like many of Lencioni's books, the information in this book is played out through a realistic business scenario with a comprehensive review of the model at the end. Lencioni defines silos as barriers between departments that make them work against one another. Other words for silos are departmental politics, divisional rivalry, or turf warfare. Lencioni claims that silos happen because leaders don't provide a compelling context for working together. While that is true, the model he proposes seems somewhat simplistic for an organization that has been experiencing years of dysfunctional behavior. Years of conflict will not be resolved by simply defining goals and objectives with accompanying metrics. Human behavior isn't that straight forward. In addition to defining a purpose, organizations may need to rebuild trust, learn to work as teams, and develop better leadership and communication skills, to name a few. Lencioni's model provides a good start, but in my experience, it's incomplete.

EVERY CEO should READ

Great book! I've read most of Patrick Lencioni's books. This one is just as good as his others. Geared towards a big or bigger compnay. It's a quick read.

Engaging and overtly informative

Exactly what I needed to read before starting the new year at work. I have a play by play book of better analyzing my organization and self!

Must read/listen

One of the best portrayals of the silo issue in business that also produces simple actions to remediate root causes. I love the way Patrick weaves business and personal lives to bring these problems to a human level. I will listen to this over and again until the concepts stick.

Fantastic!

Another Lencioni masterpiece. I couldn't have been more pleased with the story and the strategy to overcome the silos! I really appreciate the clarity and simplicity he brings to these issues.

1/2

Great to be aware of but so much words to say the idea! Good but simple!

Excellent! Exactly what I needed!

This book was extremely beneficial for issues that I’m having in my company right now. I highly recommend this book if you have a larger team and you’re starting to see silos developing. As always, Patrick delivers!

Absolute must for anyone in Corp Setting

I spent the first 15 years of my professional career in the field (branches/stores) and now that I have moved into the corporate setting, a lot has changed. It’s been roughly a year since the change and I struggled at identifying what was holding some of the department’s back. Silos. This fable paints a clear, eye opening picture of what I am exposed to each day. Now to implement the solutions.

Another great one!

Thank you Pat! Always appreciate your practical insight! Learned so much! Thank you for what you do!

Business Turf Wars

And business type can imply the idea of progress from Silos, Politics, and Turf Wars. The great insight of overall goals into breakdown into objectives into metrics of obtaining goals.

Alway entertaining

As all other books by Lancioni, this too was both entertaining and insightful. Recommendeded.

Good foundation for understanding the silos setup

As many other books from PL, this created reflections and gave concrete tools in how to approach the topic. The fabel design makes it relatable, which is great if you want to put things into context.

Great book addressing the common issue of silos

Great book, the story telling is engaging and the summary of an approach to deal with silos is a great way to start!

Another hit

He writes from a place of truth and hit's the nail on the head. No other author that I've heard makes such a compelling case to act regardless of the poisonous characters that may be working around you.