The expression “working in silos” comes from agriculture. A silo is a tall, sealed structure used to store grain or animal feed. Each silo is self-contained. What goes inside it stays isolated from the rest. This physical separation is the key to the metaphor.
In organizations, working in silos describes teams or departments that operate in isolation, hoarding information, tools, or decision-making instead of sharing them. Like grain locked away in separate towers, knowledge remains trapped within boundaries. For example, marketing doesn’t talk to sales, IT doesn’t align with operations, and innovation slows as a result.
The phrase gained popularity in management and organizational theory in the late 20th century, as companies grew larger and more specialized. While silos can protect focus and expertise, excessive siloing creates duplication, misalignment, and missed opportunities.
Breaking silos, therefore, isn’t about tearing structures down, but about building bridges between them where people collaborate to deliver better outcomes.
