What does it mean for a company to have a “home at the workplace”? How does it affect your organization? And what makes it such a desirable concept to invest in?
I’m sure there are plenty of executives out there who understand the value of what the concept, or perhaps the philosophy of “home at the workplace” means to their organization, and will agree that it is one of the most crucial pieces in shaping a successful company.
However, it does seem to be a strange concept; an oxymoron at the very least. How can you possibly feel at home when you’re at work? How are you able to feel comfortable, relaxed and cozy in the confinement of your cubicle? Nevertheless, there is so much more to it than merely the literal meaning of “home” and “workplace”–it’s the value, integrity, and culture of the company that really turns your place of work into a setting like home. There are multiple parts to a company that need to work fluidly for it to be successful, and, to make your workplace feel like home is to turn your company into a well-oiled machine. How then, do you develop your company into a high-powered, well-oiled machine?
Take us for example, WebMarketing123, a start-up company that is growing at an electrifying rate, where the core value is to get things done and get it done right, the first time. I like to say our motto is in essence the true definition of a grand hustle. But even over here, where everything is fast paced and at times hectic, we often need to take the time to have quality mental and physical release. Why is this important? Well, first off, it keeps us sane. The activities we have as a company set fond memories and moments that we can smile about. I walk by one of our conference rooms every day, and every day, I smile. Why? It’s because I have created a very fond memory at work where I have had my moment of mental and physical release. This helps me get through the day with smiles and giggles, and makes it just that much easier for me to have a positive outlook on my company. From sales meetings to in-house company activities, I have created a fun memory that I will always remember when I walk by that particular room. I even smile when I think about it as I’m writing this part of my blog!
One of the most important things I realize about this grand hustle workforce is that there needs to be a specific company culture, a culture that is so sweet that it makes it much easier to get through the day. This company culture that I’m referring to is crucial to the underlying importance of what is valued, the executive leadership style, the language and symbols, the procedures and routines, and the definitions of success that characterizes a company. There are certain rituals we at Webmarketing123 partake in that are critical to the overall shape of our team. Here are a few rituals that keep us motivated and help us create a sense of “home” at the workplace:
1. Birthday celebrations. Whenever there is a birthday, we make sure to take the time to celebrate it by getting together and sharing the birthday boy/girl’s favorite dessert. I mean, who isn’t up to take a break and get a dose of sugar? This is especially crucial around the 2:30pm mark.
2. Monthly success lunches & recognition awards. We all want to be appreciated and know that we are contributing to the overall growth of the company, so why not allow people to recognize their colleagues? We like to get the team together every month and recognize individuals for their hard work and dedication throughout that month. Whenever I’m recognized, it pushes me to work even harder. And of course, a nice lunch is provided 
.
3. Happy Hour (one of my favorites–not because of the alcohol!). It’s always a team building effort to reach out to all the members of your company and go out for a few drinks and some food after a hard day’s work. This gives us a chance to get to know each other outside of work, and thus helps us to grow together and understand who we are as people, not just as coworkers.
4. Quarterly Success Retreats. In any company, employees should be properly rewarded for helping the company as a whole meet its goals. This keeps us motivated to work hard individually, as well as a team. These quarterly goals, to us, refer to revenue, and when they are met, our entire company celebrates. For example:
At the end of Q4 of last year, we not only hit our goals but exceeded them–well beyond our target numbers. To celebrate this awesome feat, we took a company trip to a winery in Napa where we toured their facilities, tasted their wine, and even had the chance to make our own wine. How awesome is that?
At the end of Q1 of this year, after exceeding our target numbers again, we took the entire company GoKart racing (by the way, a great team-building exercise!).
This past quarter (again, after meeting our goals), we set up a company retreat to an Oakland A’s baseball game–and to top it off, they won!
There are undoubtedly other factors that contribute to making your office a better working environment and creating a sense of home–like setting up a game room with a ping pong table. [BTW, I’d strongly recommend getting a ping pong table at your workplace if you have the space. There’s no greater feeling than taking a break from a stressful moment at your desk and then slamming a Forrest Gump topspin shot against your competitive coworker!]
On a serious note, holding a high social value to your company coupled with a great culture will optimize the efficiency of your workforce and how they handle their workload. Creating this sense of home at the workplace will inevitably tailor employees to hold a high regard for their company, as they would their home. WebMarketing123 has created a sense of home, and thus we hold a high regard for our company. The way we feel about our company translates to how we treat our work, clients, and our friends at the office—with high value and integrity.
-@JeffreyYoon
