Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
to work in a silo

to work in a silo

7.0
Act alone in a company without sharing information with other teams
  • phrasal verb
  • Jargon
translation icon : trabajar en aislamiento
  • Many large firms struggle when teams work in a silo, stifling innovation and communication.

Examples

  • Leaders encourage employees not to work in a silo but to exchange ideas across divisions.

  • The marketing team tends to work in a silo without consulting others.

  • If departments work in a silo, they may duplicate efforts instead of sharing resources.

  • Don't work in a silo if you want to succeed.

  • If departments work in a silo, they may duplicate efforts instead of sharing resources.

  • Many large firms struggle when teams work in a silo, stifling innovation and communication.

  • The marketing team tends to work in a silo without consulting others.

Synonyms

to go it alone
vsto work in a silo
  • Informal
26 5.3

To do something without help from other people

describes acting without support and also not sharing information internally
to fly solo
vsto work in a silo
  • Informal
14 4.8

To act or work alone without help from others

focuses on acting alone and refusing to share information with colleagues
to lone it
vsto work in a silo
  • UK
9.9

To do something alone without help

refers to working alone and specifically avoiding collaboration or information sharing

Antonyms

to share
∞ 1.0

To let other people use or have part of something

to collaborate
96 4.6

To work with other people to reach a shared goal

How Collaborative

cross-functional team
  • Jargon
1 3.6
autonomously
4 5.3
to fly solo
  • Informal
14 4.8
to work in a silo
  • Jargon
7.0

Surface Forms

work in a silo infinitive

Morphology

work + in + a + silo

The phrase combines transparent constituents ('work' + 'in' + 'silo') but relies on a metaphorical extension of 'silo' from a physical isolated container to organizational isolation. A B1 learner who knows 'silo' as something isolated can probably infer the intended meaning, but the figurative shift (working separately, not sharing information) is not a strictly literal composition and requires pragmatic mapping. Therefore it is only partially predictable.

Etymology

Work in a silo comes from the image of a farm silo — a tall, closed tower where grain is kept by itself and separated from the rest of the farm. So when people work in a silo they stay apart and 'do not share information' with others in the organization.