What makes a great workplace?
I'm working on a project with a team of people who are quite a fun bunch and though there's been a lot of drama, there's also been plenty of great team banter.
With work so hectic and intense, I find that things like a crazy workload are a lot less stressful when you can at least have a laugh and enjoy the company of your colleagues.
I started pondering what makes a workplace good and what makes people stay there. It might be the organisational goals, the social club, the work or projects people get involved with in their job or just the team/people? Sure, there are those who just enjoy their job, but often they're doing stuff that's considered "sexy".
What about the more monotonous tasks and jobs where people don't necessarily enjoy what they're doing or even have an interest in it? What makes them stay in a job for years or even decades? Most of the time, the answer I've heard from people is that they like the team and the people they work with and/or the company culture.
I believe the biggest asset to a company or organisation is people. If you hire good people, usually you have a good company or end product. It's true that money can buy you good people but money is not always the biggest incentive for staying in a job. I once turned down a job because I knew I would hate it; even if they paid me twice what they were offering I wouldn't have been interested because the person I would have been working with made people's lives a misery - but that's another blog post entirely! The hardest part is actually not hiring good people, it's retaining them.
These days there's little in the way of company or organisational loyalty. I rarely find anyone my age expecting to be able to work for the same workplace for more than a decade even if they wanted to. It does make sense, though, that if you enjoy going to work and being in the company of good people, then why would you want to leave?
I recently got given some feedback that I'm "a real team player" and I don't think I consciously thought about actively making sure I was one. Years ago I thought it was just common sense to work collaboratively with others, but I've since come across people who really don't like working with others and just want to be left alone to do their work. I don't know that I could do that - I think I enjoy interacting with other people too much - but each to their own...unless they're in a job that demands a collaborative approach.
Have you ever stayed at a workplace because you liked the people over and above the job itself? What do you think makes a workplace great? Are you a team player or someone who prefers to work alone?
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I started a new job yesterday, so this is awesome timing!
Its a new location, but basically an old job as i have done this all before. The best and worst things in this area are the people. Its all down to how the team interacts, and if that doesnt happen, then its going to be a very long day. So far, its been good. I say that with one shift under my belt :p
I actually knew a few of these people from the old store, so we already know who fits where etc.
In my environment, its all about who fits where best, and playing up these strengths.
I've never been in a role where I've had to work as part of a team. But I've seen plenty of cases of "team player". They all seemed to consist of someone doing someone else's work for them. And if people refused they were told they weren't team players.
The most I'm prepared to do is try to not let doors shut in people's faces. Which is a darn sight more then 90% of the people in my organisation bother doing.
In most cases, the team you work with makes or breaks the job. Even the most mundane role can be made appealing by having a good team of people.
I tend to work solo on projects, but do enjoy having the support of the wider team to bounce ideas off etc.
"...money is not always the biggest incentive for staying in a job..." Close. It's actually the money to BS ratio. If you're earning good money you're prepared to put up with more. Conversely, if your job involves very little BS you don't mind so much if you're paid less, because the nicer working environment makes up for it in some ways. I'm guessing though that you haven't been in your job very long. Our Department has a policy of not giving you more than a couple of percent pay rise (i.e. not even equal to inflation) no matter how well you do in your performance assessment. A couple of years of that and you may see the money aspect differently.
On a tangentially related topic, what's with that project manager job your lot have got going ATM? Do you think it's a good job? I'm considering it.
I hate having to work, I despise that someone else is stealing my intent all day. I have about a million other better things to do with my time than pushing paper around an office. I have never had a job that I really liked (I don’t like my current one either) but i have been a 'good team player' and I am good at what i do, even tho I despise it. I don’t understand those workaholic types in the slightest. I mean why would you want to work for 50 years only to end up old with a little money in the bank (that you cant take with you when you die) and 10 years of your life left! Ugh! I couldn’t think of many things worse. Im so looking forward to finally moving out of the city to the wop wops where I can potter around my land (we are buying very soon, woop woop) growing veges, creating things and looking after my animals. I hope to all that is good in the universe that I don’t have to work after im 35 if I don’t want to. Life is for living not working.
I really like where I work the people are fantastic and the work isnt to bad either, the down side is its a crown entity so the pay isnt the greatest and we feature a lot in the media. Still I stay cause i like it here.
We do fun things all the time both within our team and the centre. I have made some great friends here and dont generally have days where i really dont want to go to work.
I must say this is the first job I have had like this. I have been here 2 1/2 years so far and dont think ill be going anywhere in a hurry
@Geoff - yep, I think that's true re: a good team making even a mundane job fun.
@Louisette - interesting, I've actually put up with a lot of BS for a small amount of money (or even no money at all) but because it was something I loved working on, I learned to put up with it. I have had a few years with no pay rise though due to "economic crisis" etc and I'm still here! ;) project management is more aligned to my film work, so I do enjoy it but it's not for everyone.
Definitely the people make or break the job for me. I left my last job partly to chase money, and partly to escape from the "management" of the organisation. I don't do a terribly exciting or glamourous job now, although it can be very challenging. But I enjoy the people I work with, and we definitely try to have fun at work.
Big misunderstanding of exactly what is a good 'team player'. I have been managing staff for over 15 years now and teamwork has been absolutely vital with my staff but very few people understand that one of the essential ingredients are strong interpersonal skills, a component of which is high emotional intelligence and a willingness to submerge your own ego for the sake of the team good. You also need a high sense of self-awareness and the ability to self-analyse and correct.
It's not just about being friendly and pleasant and getting along with others.
To be honest, I wouldn't want either Chaz or Athene as part of my team - too much ego and too little self-awareness.
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I can be a team player but the corporate 9-5 lifestyle isn't for me, hence the reason I'm self-employed. I have only myself to answer to, don't have to deal with office politics (the last place I worked full-time had that in spades), and I actually care about the 'organisation' I work for ;-) I can work as a team when occasion requires, and it's nice every now and then, but I like my autonomy. And being able to get up only when I feel like it.