Kazira

OK. I’m sick of people of complaining about how dysfunctional the company that they-work-for is!!! So I’m writing this blog to at least start the thought process of what an ideal company aught to do – Yeh Yeh don’t tell me you want to work for a company like GOOGLE or the World Bank just because you heard that they have great benefits – there has to be more that what these companies do that would constitute a GREAT PLACE to work … If not, at least develop a comprehensive list of all benefits that Google offers. And don’t tell me that an ideal company is the one that makes adult toys and an ideal job is in this company’s testing department (my current boss gave me this as a response when I posed him the question on what an ideal company is?).

Let me be honest; I have not yet worked for a company that I would label as good (let alone the best) company in the world – but I travel a lot and have met a lot of people from different companies and have visited several companies that perform diverse functions – from behemoth’s such as Boeing, Lockheed martin, and Northrop Grumman to a small business that perform innovative research and system development; all the way down to a company of 2.

And on these travel and visits to different companies, I have observed or you can say sensed a certain energy that pretty much gave away, in advance, how the company’s performance is going to be – Then I have confirmed this “initial gut feeling” by noticing the quality of work performed by the company. So, I picked up on a few things that a GOOD company does and what mistakes some of the bad ones make.

OK here the disclaimer - Once I have most of these benefits and their feasibility solidified in my head – who knows – I may start a company with these basic principals – I’m currently struggling with my own demons that restrain me to implement these ideas in the form of a company.

OK, with all these caveats – lets start – what would be a good company do and why? Here are some BROAD BRUSH ideas (that fall under Profit Sharing, Employee Empowerment, Management Optimization, and Enhanced benefits) –

• EMPLOYEE OWNERSHIP – An ownership of the company by the employees will get the best employee friendly policies to be implemented. Ownership reduces the resource wastage within a company and motivates people to do more for their benefit.
• IDEAL MEDICAL COVERAGE AND RETIREMENT PACKAGES – Like I said – we are all working so we can keep ourselves healthy, happy and then eventually retire peacefully. By establishing an employee body, the company can ensure that the employees are getting the best as far as the medical coverage are concerned and also are hiring the right investment company to take care of their retirement – 401(k).
• HIRE THE BEST – A company that actively tracks talent while they are studying in college and then entices them to join the company once they finish studies will guarantee the best of the lot coming and working for you. A constant touch with the educational instituted that produce talents for your field of work will ensure an easier transition. A constant research funding to these professors will guarantee that the talents will come across your company’s need before they graduate. This way, there would not be any need for internship etc. If you are looking for experienced talent – then entice them from your competitors with better benefits.
• FOSTERS INNOVATION – How does one company does this? Check out the web link http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2008/how-to-foster-innovation/ for some ideas.
• RETAIN THE BEST AND LET THEM GO IF NECESSARY – When you hire a talent, go through their plans in life in detail. If they have not responded your question of “where do you see yourself in 5 years?” during the interview – let them sit and ponder that question for a while. Ask them to chock out a plan for their life for the next 5 years and then make them follow that plan. Make them take the STRENGTH FINDER test that I mentioned in an earlier blog titled “know thyself”. This way the manager and the person hired would know exactly what his/her strengths are and how to properly utilize them for mutual benefit.
• ENCOURAGE TELECOMMUTING – For those who can – for those who have well defined tasking and due dates, and do not require customer interfacing, mentoring, or other employee interactions – must be allowed to telecommute as much as possible. As a matter of fact, in general, for all employees, the work day should be task-driven rather than clock-driven.
• HAVE A SINGLE MINDED GOAL OF THE COPANY – A company that has a well defined goal usually succeeds since they create a cult like following in the company to achieve success. A quantifiable measure of company performance (Other than the revenue coming in) and making it available to the employees on a regular basis also helps.
• SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE – an ideal company would have to comply with this, if applicable. This is a no brainer. More on this in a later blog.
• PROVIDE DESIGNATED MENTORS FOR THE NEW HIRES – Every time a new hire joins a company, have a mentor assigned who not only provide day-to-day tasking but also provides help achieve the short and long-term goals established for the employee.
• OTHER BENEFITS – Provide them additional benefits such as money and recognition for publishing – sabbaticals after certain time of employment in the company. Free time for creative thinking and ideas persuals (Approved by the managers, of course).
• ON SITE DAY CARE – There is so much of lost productivity due to folks concerned about their kids – Having kids on site will not only provide them with peace of mind but also make them more productive.
• GIVE THEM TOOLS TO BE SUCCESSFUL – Hardware such as Laptops, BlackBerry’s etc. and not to forget – ‘regular training’ to keep them upto speed with the advancements in your field.
• FIND AND ELIMINATE FAVORATISM WHENEVER AND WHEREVER POSSIBLE – Self explanatory. There is no escaping this but energy must be spent minimizing this.
• RESTRICT ETHERNET ACCESS – BUT PROVIDE HALF AN HOUR A DAY OF SURIFNG ON THE COMPANY TIME IN AN OPEN INERNET AREA – Internet is not only a source of distraction but also provides a great arena to waste the company time away. Taking uninhibited Ethernet access away (by publishing hours spent ‘non work related’ surfing to each employee); and providing them with internet access for half an hour to check their personal e-mails or to order the books from Amazon does not hurt.
• OUTTA BOY – An Occasional praise for the employees gives great confidence boost – Team outta boys also work.
• MONTHLY LUNCH HOUR WITH THE COMPANY EXPERTS – Have experts in your company provide brief primer on the new breakthroughs that they are working on or issues that they are tackling. Who knows which team member would have the right answer for them?
• OPEN ACCESS TO COMPANY DIGITAL LIBRARY – This is the brain of the company – everything that an employee produces (be it report, presentation, paper, analysis, patent, ideas, code etc.) must be properly organized and must be accessible to all.
• GIVE THEM STARBUCKS AT WORK (FOR GOD SAKES) – You know, I have seen too many talented folks wasting their precious time and energy going to Starbucks nearby – give them the best of coffee (Yes, including an espresso machine) right there in the company kitchen area. This will save time and enhance productivity.
• HAVE A FAIR YEARLY EVALUATION – I have no idea how to conduct fair yearly evaluation – Still trying to find the best. All that I have seen so far are so dysfunctional – everyone has lost faith in those. Someone need to find a good way to do this – If you have any ideas, pass along.
• ENCOURAGE SAVING – Some ideas currently being implemented in some companies is – to give additional yearly raises to folks who pledge it all to their 401(k).
• HAVE A SIGNIFICANT INTERNAL R&D – Those companies that reinvest significant chunk of their profit into investigating newer and better ways to do business succeeds in the long run.

Till I form my own company with these values – enjoy your work – stop complaining – do something about it … If you have more ideas – do pass them along. I’ll keep working on the list ….