Every time we review our budget and headcount allocation, my leadership team members turn into protective silo managers who fight to hoard resources for their own departments rather than doing what is best for the overall business. How do I force them to look at the big picture?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

When leadership team members fight over resources like protective silo managers, they are violating the first rule of a healthy leadership team: the team comes first. They are prioritizing their local department goals over the overall health of the business. To break this behavior, you must change how decisions are made. In the EOS framework, we teach that the leadership team is your primary team, and the departments they run are secondary. During your next quarterly pulsing session, review the V/TO to realign everyone on the company's shared long-term vision and one-year plan. When reviewing budget allocations, frame the discussion around your company Rocks, not departmental wishes. Every dollar and headcount must be tied directly to achieving those Rocks. If two leaders are clashing over resources, use the IDS process to bring the conflict into the open. Ask them to solve the problem from the perspective of what is best for the entire organization, not their individual departments. If they cannot agree, the Integrator must make the final call based on what best serves the company's goals. When your team members realize that resource allocation is driven by objective, data-backed business needs rather than political positioning or loud demands, the silo walls will begin to crumble and collaboration will improve.