Bursting the Bubble

I've been thinking a lot about silo mentality. That is the holding (and hoarding) of information and knowledge at work in many organizations. Like most people, I have been on both sides of the silo wall.

From within the bubble, it almost always feels like the walls are necessary. It feels like protection for the work and the people. The downside, of course, is that few endeavors benefit from that type of isolation. From the outside, it can feel that you are unwanted and perhaps even disrespected.

In communication, there is an inherent invitation for vibrancy, new voices, and ideas to infuse the contained community with vitality. It can be the difference between stagnation and growth. Breath remains essential to life. But in order to have those conversations, you have to risk the contact and be more open to uncertainty.

To be clear, I am not suggesting that you bare your trade secrets to the world. And, I also understand that our own relevance can be wrapped up in the ideas under our control. It is scary to invite someone into your space and truly let them speak. The potential gifts of these interactions however are completely worth it.

So sure, protect your proprietary knowledge but please, be certain that you haven't created an echo chamber where ideas go to die.

This week, try a stretch. Invite one person into your bubble and be curious about how they see your domain. At worst, it doesn't lead to anything. But maybe, just maybe, it will spark something wonderful. Communication is always better than the alternative. Always.