Having a great atmosphere takes time, work and good people. From the top down, I have consistently let everyone know that they can always come to me with any issue or problem they may have and any exciting news that they wish to share. At times, this also has helped keep management in check and has continually supported the practice of fair play, respect and innovation in the company.
As the owner and CEO of Staffwell, I have always wanted the atmosphere in the company to include many elements: success, fairness, fun, happiness, talent, professionalism, customer service orientation, profit-driven, open-door, hard-working, helpful, respectful, ethical, growth-oriented and continual improvement. What I did not want were aspects such as: selfishness, theft, grumpiness, nay-sayers, procrastination, gossip, hierarchy, favoritism, depression, attitude and aggression. When people join our company I believe that they immediately notice the difference.
Atmosphere really does come down to the people you have in the company and their willingness to carry out and maintain the desired atmosphere. If they also buy into your vision and desire, then you have a high probability of successfully creating that environment for everyone. Having and hiring people that crave the same office atmosphere as you do is the best way to ensure it will be achieved.
Employees want:
• A fun, friendly, hard-working, structured and an equitable work environment;
• To work with great people, with great internal relations and ability;
• A professional, stable, respectful, open-door and honest atmosphere;
• To be known and be noticed (personally and on results);
• The occasional minor drama in the office, as well as entertainment;
• To be inspired and challenged;
• To work in a positive, fair, Western-style environment;
• To like the work processes and procedures in the company;
• To work for client/customer-focused companies;
• To work for companies that don’t give up, that work hard and blossom in the face of any challenges;
• To work for companies that continually work to improve all aspects of their business;
• To be paid as agreed, and for agreements and promises to be kept;
• A welcoming, non-stressful induction when they join the company;
• To work for a company in which everyone gets along well and works well together – not just a few people or divisions here and there;
• To embrace being successful for the Company, not fear it due to others being threatened or angered by it;
• To feel free to speak, expound ideas and contribute; and
• To be stimulated to work hard by working within a diligent team.
“Good market reputation, good company name, best in management selection: I know a lot of people at other agencies and their rules, procedures and people, and their management do not compare to ours”… “Our team, people and business make me proud –it’s all about our team”… “We were the best and we are now – we have clients who value us a lot, who call when they need us and call only us”…”We differ a lot from other competitors and it is thanks to our management, our trainings, our value of team work which makes us know exactly what our clients and candidates want”… “Great brand”…”Everyone knows Staffwell and Teri, great clients and searches”…”I feel our leadership in the market and that we will be very strong after the crisis as I hear this from lots of candidates and clients”…”Happy to be with a strong brand”… “Proud to work for Staffwell and that all systems are built here”… “All procedures are very professional”…”Great image of this company –gives pride to all”....Proud to work here, proud we are at the top.”
I believe that reputation really is everything to a company. We have always tried to do everything better. I think this commitment to relentless improvement is one of the key reasons we have earned a good reputation within the company and in the market.
Furthermore, we always put the customer first – a directive that comes directly down from me, as this is how I have groomed myself professionally over the years. We do not take a position that is defensive nor ignorant; two elements that are too widespread in the average workplace at times. Instead, we admit our mistakes when we make them, with honesty, and work quickly to rectify and learn from them. I think this has been appreciated and welcomed from our clients and candidates, and by our own employees.
Employees want:
• To work for a company with a good name and a good market reputation;
• To be the best in their industry or be capable of becoming the best;
• To work for companies with superior rules, procedures, people and management, compared to their competitors;
• To be proud of their company, people and teamwork;
• To work for companies where their clients value them, and stay with them, due to the high levels of service and the results they receive;
• To work for a company that has a great brand, has market name recognition and has well-known leadership;
• To work for a company that has great clients with quality assignments, and a positive market outlook;
• To work for innovative companies that employ innovative people;
• Tight professional internal procedures; and
• To feel proud working for their company.
“I am becoming more professional and learning more about the company and enjoy working in different sectors”… “A great school to learn how to deal with clients and candidates”…“We give a lot of professional development; time management, negotiations, communications.”
The magic ends when you stop learning and developing. We provide a lot of training and on-the-job experience to our employees, and many in our team also self-educate themselves on their own time outside the office. A smarter team is always more likely to bring more depth to their roles and the company and, therefore, be able to bring better results.
I truly believe that the recruitment industry itself is very interesting and multi-faceted. It deals comprehensively with people and “people issues”. Your clients are people, your candidates are people, your employees are people; and as no two people are the same, no two search assignments are the same. Everything is always changing and is always new, challenging, and exciting.
Employees want:
• To reach higher levels of professionalism;
•