![\"CultureAttrition\"](\"https:\/\/svapm.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/09\/houseofcards.thumbnail.JPG\")
I recently worked for two very different companies: Company A, a huge, global company with a heavy reliance on contractors; and Company B, a small, regional company with a core staff that had been there for quite some time.\u00a0 I was struck by the difference in my first day at each company…\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0At Company A, I arrived at the requested time, then sat for an hour in the lobby as the receptionist tried to reach someone who could escort me into the secured area.\u00a0 When we found someone, they gave me a basic overview of the facility and took me to my cube.\u00a0 In my cube, the telephone didn’t work, and I couldn’t log on to the computer without the initial password from my manager, who was unavailable.\u00a0 (I know this isn’t unusual: and yes, I was thrilled that the computer was physically there.)\u00a0 I am self-reliant and persistent, so I headed off to get my badge made, then started troubleshooting my phone and tried not to worry too much about how unproductive I felt.<\/p>\n
Contrast with my first day at Company B.\u00a0 My managers were at an off-site, so I didn’t see them the first day.\u00a0 But, they had sent me detailed emails with tips on getting started, and had instructed their staffs to make sure I felt welcome and to help me settle in.\u00a0 (Their exact words were, “Make sure she comes back tomorrow.”)\u00a0 I had more people volunteer to help out than I could’ve imagined.\u00a0 At first, I thought that perhaps their workload was just lighter than at Company A.\u00a0 But, I soon learned that people at Company B had a lot to do, too.\u00a0 They had just made time for me.\u00a0 After my first week, I felt more committed to Company B than anywhere I’ve been for a while.<\/p>\n
Soon before I was due to leave Company A, I was asked to escort a new hire into the building, as our manager was going to be too busy.\u00a0 I didn’t know what they’d be working on, and I didn’t feel empowered to ask.\u00a0 When I got them from the lobby, I showed them around as best I could, but I couldn’t answer simple questions like, “What project will I be working on?” or “Who will I be working with?”\u00a0 When they similarly ran into equipment trouble, I gave them the same basic information I had been given to help them figure it out themselves.<\/p>\n
On the flip side, in my second week at Company B, I organized a simple “Welcome Back” cube decoration for a returning co-worker, similar to the one I had been involved with in my first week.\u00a0 My manager had led the charge on the first one, and she clearly prioritized doing fun, silly things as a team to show how much we valued each other.\u00a0 It was a precedent that I enjoyed following.<\/p>\n
What have you observed about your company culture?\u00a0 How does it reverberate through your organization?\u00a0 Would you change it if you could?<\/p>\n
I look forward to hearing from you.<\/p>\n
Cheers,
\nMia Whitfield<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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