WORD. I’ve long argued that the territorial pissing contests – which boil down to budget, as in who controls it and therefore has job ‘security’ – are the walls. It’s only when things fail that leadership takes notice, blames the silo and poor communication. But convince C-suite that ideas like service and relationships are more than marketing bullets? That front line is what matters, and therefore that’s where the investment and budget belongs? That control is an illusion and it shouldn’t take 8 levels of managers and directors to ‘supervise’ the 1-2 layers of talent doing the actual work? Sigh.. I could go on and on agreeing w/ you.

Integrated is the magic word you mention Davina — and not just for PR, but as you point, out across all communications and business. In the companion guide this post refers to, it mentions that the natural gravitational pull of all orgs is towards more rules and more control — which impacts empowerment. I think much can be said of the silos you mention. Turf protection, fiefdoms, departmental tunnel vision is the natural pull — fighting against those things takes leadership that can see the big picture and get the parts working together towards a common strategy.

Along side Customers, Employees are the most crucial Public an organization has. And it’s when TPTB realize that people need to work together – integrated throughout the company – so that the best and brightest are recruited and properly trained, so that top talent is retained and advanced, so that the ‘boat rockers’ and innovators are empowered to do better, and rewarded for it. What happens is that the customer, the employee AND the organization all win. This is integrated PR, this is what good business is. FWIW.