I’ve been reading Fortune magazine’s article on the top 100 best companies to work for.
In the article the authors point out that the perks provided by the top employers have an indirect purpose; Google (as many of us will already know) provide many employee perks including free food; what I had not known is that they manage the serving time so that employees have to wait for a few minutes – so that conversations may be struck up whilst waiting to be served.
The eating arrangements are long tables, placed a little too close together. There’s a good chance that you will sit opposite someone you don’t know, and when you push your chair back to get up you’ll likely bump into the person behind you – they call that the “Google Bump”
The thinking behind all of this is to create relationships across the company – and it is a common factor in the top 100 – that encourage the employees to feel part of a team.
A study quoted in the article through a little graph (http://www.oceantomo.com/blog/2015/03-05-ocean-tomo-2015-intangible-asset-market-value/) shows that intangible assets as a percentage of market value have risen from 17% in 1975 to 84% in 2015.
The article continues
“the most effective teams are not those whose members boast the highest IQs, but rather those whose members are most sensitive to the thoughts and feelings of others”
How can you apply this learning to your business?
It starts with your personal approach and attitudes.
Gandhi said:
“Your beliefs become your thoughts,
Your thoughts become your words,
Your words become your actions,
Your actions become your habits”
In simple terms if you start to believe that this matters – in a business context, not just in your personal life and with your family & friends – and you act in accordance with those beliefs, you will be observed and imitated.
What can you do today to make someone else’s day a little better…the foundations for a more productive workplace?