Let’s be honest. Starting any new job is hard. But starting a new job as an inexperienced intern at a creative company full of talented people: that was downright terrifying.
Of course, for anyone who has met the super-rad people at JIBE, you know there was really nothing for me to be afraid of. Besides receiving tons of advice about my work, I was welcomed whole-heartedly into their inside jokes, company BBQ’s, group texts, “Fun Days,” and the daily quest to find somewhere wonderful to eat. I began to understand that not every workplace has to be mind numbing and that the cliché term, “Company Culture,” really is one of the most important things in the workplace.
In the past, I mainly worked at office-type jobs—where paperwork goes to die and you could never quite get through the piles. So when I started at JIBE, there was already a huge difference in culture, based partially on the work that we do. But it was something more than that; a fun and productive atmosphere that I can tell JIBE has worked hard to cultivate.
How Can You Create a Successful Company Culture?
Hire the People That Fit Your Vibe
The average full-time US employee works roughly 47 hours per week and if you are working with people you can’t stand, that’s a long 47 hours. It’s great working at JIBE because we all genuinely get along and like to be together (Right, guys? Riiiight?). The interview process should be very careful—it’s important to hire someone who is not only qualified, but also enjoyable to work with.
Don’t Be Afraid to Take a Break
No, it’s not lazy: it’s good for you. An enjoyable atmosphere can help employees be happier, and recent studies have shown that happier people are then more productive and more able to solve problems. Occasionally, on a hard day, JIBE takes a long lunch. Or sometimes we challenge each other to a very competitive game of 007 on the Nintendo 64 (I’m the one who always dies first, finds herself in a corner and can’t turn around, and talks the most smack. You know how it is.). Or sometimes we take a workday and do something fun, like go to the movies or an amusement park. It always puts everyone in a good mood, brings the office closer together, and makes tackling that workload just a little bit easier.
Sincerely Ask if Your Employees Are Happy and Not Overloaded
An employee that feels valued is one that is more likely to stick around. Regularly I will hear the partners around the office, “Hey, are you doing ok?” “Is your workload too much?” “Can I do anything to help?” Because I know the questions are genuine, and not just lip service, it makes me feel more valued and want to work harder to make JIBE an even better/more successful place. Employees work harder for a company they believe in.
Make Sure There is Food in the Break Room
Okay, okay. We all know this one isn’t really necessary—but how great is it to know that if you skip breakfast, there’s cereal and milk at work? Or if you have the after-lunch munchies, you can grab a snack? It certainly makes me feel more taken care of, and that’s the main point: do an extra something that makes your employees know they’re appreciated.
I could tell right when I interviewed at JIBE that it was exactly where I wanted to be. The difference in the atmosphere was palpable. Everyone at JIBE often refers to each other as the “JIBE Team” or “JIBE Family,” and that’s one of the things that makes working at JIBE so great. Company culture makes a difference. Sometimes it’s that, more than anything else, that keeps your employees coming to work every day (with a smile!).