Most companies, I find, are really one of two things: a Silo, or a Matrix. Not sure what I mean by that?
Think about it this way: based on these definitions, which organization would you rather work for — and create?
SILO: si·lo ˈsīlō/ noun
mid 19th Century from the Greek siros meaning “cornpit”
1. A tower or pit used to store grain for the purpose of compressing and storing grain as silage
2. An underground chamber in which a guided missile is stored and readied for firing
3. A system or process that operates in isolation from others
MATRIX: ma·trix ˈmātriks/ noun
From the Lating meaning “breeding female,” later “womb”
1. A medium, structure or environment in which something develops
2. A mold in which something such as a printing type or phonograph is cast or shaped
3. Mathematics: A rectangular array of quantities or expression in rows and columns that is treated as a single entity
See? We all can recognize traits of our own companies in one of those two. But who wants to work in an airtight container designed to compress grain into silage or fire guided missiles, when you could be operating in an environment designed to be a breeding ground for life and development?
I know which I’d prefer. What about you?
