These days, there’s hardly a mission statement that doesn’t herald it, or a Management that doesn’t laud it. And yet despite all of the attention that business creativity has won over the past few years, little is known about innovation in the work culture.
Whenever I get a chance to interface with a company, I spend a lot of time and thought on what ideas they represent and what lessons we can learn from them. Most of these thought exercises leaves me disappointed. There is a tremendous amount of innovation in making better products, increasing efficiency and reducing costs. There are plenty of companies with a great product, a hip style, or a fast-rising stock price that are, essentially, one-hit wonders—they deliver great short-term results, but they don’t stand for anything big or important for the long term. There seems to a diminishing focus on creating great work environments for employees….one that nourishes commitment, creativity and personal growth. By work environment, I don’t necessarily mean the physical work space but intangibles beyond that.
As I reminisce my 15 year career, my shoulders get broader noting that there has not been single person under my direct supervision and management that quit the job for whatever reason. About three years ago, I started to make note of several aspects of the working culture that I had put in place some knowingly and some not. What I realized and put into practice today is that every employee is looking for something more in their job. Traditional thinking is that creating a working environment conducive to employee satisfaction is about making their tasks at work easier by providing with tools, providing great facilities at work, incentives for their performance etc. But what I realized was that employees are looking for more than work related satisfaction. If someone is spending majority of time at work, more than what they spend with their family, it is only expected that they are looking for an overall personal growth.
The new competitive frontier in the world of business is about repetitive innovation. What this means is that a good working environment should integrate opportunities for employees that not only enhance their working skills but also nurture their overall personal growth. I am not necessarily saying that companies do not embrace this philosophy. Usually this is done as the companies grow in size and money. More as a benefit of success. What about start-ups and smaller companies? Given the scary statistic that more than 95% of new companies fail within the first five years, one would think that the chances of survival for new companies can be extended at least by securing a committed workforce.
I am proud to share that Sapplica is home to a working culture conducive to career growth as well as personal growth. We spend significant time planning and providing for employees all possible avenues that can help them nurture overall growth. Talk to our employees and you will see what it is all about. Even better, drop us an email (connexions[at]sapplica[dot]com) and maybe you can join us for lunch to learn more.
