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12 Most Unusual Offers Made to Recruit a New Employee

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12 Unusual Things In Offer Letters Employers Have Included
The hiring process can be long, tedious and repetitive — yet, completely necessary to find talent which will fit your company. Once you’ve found the perfect fit for your company, you want to make sure that your offer is accepted. This can lead to some very interesting or unusual elements within a potential new hire’s offer letter. To find out more, we asked entrepreneurs from Young Entrepreneur Council the following:

“What is the most unusual thing you’ve included in an employee’s offer letter?”

Unusual Things in Offer Letters

Here’s what YEC community members had to say:

1. Unlimited Seltzer Water

“We have an employee that is obsessed with seltzer and we knew that by adding this to the offer letter we’d get the right reaction and hopefully an acceptance. We wanted the employee to know that we were obsessed with the details, remembered the conversations we had and wanted to make their experience working with us a good one. Sometimes it’s the little things that stand out.” ~ Corey Eulas, Factorial Digital

2. Walks on the Beach

“Being in southern California, we had a candidate make a joke about loving walks on the beach. This candidate then crushed the interview; they were so passionate and had all the right questions. We left feeling like we knew this individual for years. We were confident this person would take our offer, so I included “walks on the beach” in the offer. They loved it and are now apart of our team.” ~ Colbey Pfund, LFNT Distribution

3. Pet-Friendly Office

“We have a team member with us now that is a huge dog lover. He brings his dog everywhere. Learning this through the interview process, we included in our offer letter that we’d make our office dog-friendly (it had never come up before) — meaning he could bring his pal with him to work every day. Now, not only does he get to have his dog in the office, but we have our very own mascot.” ~ Zach Binder, Bell + Ivy

4. Bagel Tuesdays

“During the interview they asked if we had any specific company morale events on a weekly basis. We said that we do something once a quarter, usually an outing. They suggested bagel breakfast Tuesdays. We liked it, so we added it.” ~ Nicole Munoz, Nicole Munoz Consulting

5. Mugs with Personalized Avatars

“Because I run several online businesses, many employees have an online business profile. They can choose if they’d like to use an actual image of themselves or a professionally created avatar. While I offer more significant perks and bonuses in a job offer, I do also offer a personalized mug with their business avatar. What is more motivational than looking at yourself!” ~ Shu Saito, Godai Soaps

6. Unlimited Time Off

“Since our company is entirely remote, we can’t offer many perks that other companies with physical locations can like unlimited coffee, so instead we offer unlimited time off. This perk is perfect for a remote company and our employees who value job flexibility.” ~ Chris Christoff, MonsterInsights

7. Monthly Massages

“A fantastic benefit that I love to offer our management and front desk employees is access to a free massage at our studio, every month. This perk gets employees very excited about the potential for working with us, and is a nice benefit to welcome them to the team and thank them for their hard work.” ~ Rachel Beider, Massage Outpost

8. Their Choice Between Equity and Cash

“Everyone has a different set of priorities and life situation. We like to let our employees choose from a menu of three different cash and equity options. You can choose more cash and less equity, middle-middle or more equity and less cash. There is no judgment in selection, we just want to be creative about supporting our team in the way that fits them best.” ~ Aaron Schwartz, Passport

9. Seed Funding for Side Hustles

“Unlike some companies and corporations, particularly larger ones, we try to encourage our team to be entrepreneurial. This encouragement goes so far as to frequently help our employees start businesses in their downtime. Obviously, none of these can compete, but there is no reason not to let your team taste the fruits of the gig economy as well.” ~ Ryan Bradley, Koester & Bradley, LLP

10. Free Change of Environment

“If they’re not able to be productive in their current environment, they are free to change to a new environment of their choice at any given moment. They don’t have to stay stuck in an office they’re not happy in. They can move around at their discretion. I have seen that being in the office all the time actually inhibits productivity and hacks their creativity. I like to give freedom of location.” ~ Sweta Patel, Startup Growth Mode

11. International Remote Days

“We offer 14 “international remote days” to all hires. Millennials love to travel and our retention is higher because we allow our employees to have the best of both worlds. The rules? They have to be at least three time zones away, have access to high speed wifi and outline goals while remote. Our company wins because the team mixes PTO and remote days so productivity doesn’t completely halt!” ~ Krish Chopra, NPHub

12. No Management Structure

“Being a completely remote company we already offer unlimited time off and the ability to create your own office hours. If you are a night owl you can work during the middle of the night if you are a morning person, go for it. With that said, everyone at our company has a voice and there is no management structure. All employees are equally important and their ideas and concerns are listened to.” ~ Jared Brown, Hubstaff Talent

Image: Depositphotos.com

This article, “12 Most Unusual Offers Made to Recruit a New Employee” was first published on Small Business Trends



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How to Manage Finances When You’re Working as a Freelancer

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The evolution of work in the digital age is making workers’ lives easier. For example, online freelancing job sites have paved the way for many people to work from the comfort of their own homes. But the freedom to work your own way has its challenges, too. And one of those challenges is learning how to manage finances as a freelancer.

Freelancers often market their skills and services online today. Moreover, in the online world almost every skill is in demand. Whether your specialty is content writing, web design, social media, digital marketing, or something else, you’re bound to find your freelancing niche.

Freelancing Can Be a Risky Business

Freelancers have the freedom to work anywhere they choose, whether it’s a nearby coffee shop or their own home office. What’s more, many freelancers think of themselves as entrepreneurs, and claim the right to create their careers their own way.

On the other had, freelancers must almost continually market themselves and their skills. Otherwise, they’ll never attract the clients they need. Additionally, some admit that they miss having a regular job with a fixed salary. Instead, they have to manage their own business with its ever-changing cash flow.

For many freelancers, the main struggle is that the work is unpredictable. Consequently, they don’t necessarily have a steady income. One month, they might land a great client and make good money. The next month, they struggle just to keep up with basic expenses.

No longer can freelancers look forward to a paycheck that shows up in their bank account twice a month. Gone, too, are the end-of-year bonuses, group health insurance, and benefits of the corporate world.

In other words, freelancing can be a risky business if you don’t learn quickly to generate sufficient income and manage finances. What’s more, since freelancing is a one-person business, all of the responsibilities and liabilities fall on your shoulders.

Therefore, if you’re going to survive as a freelancer, you need to have an organized plan that will keep you afloat financially.

How
Smart Freelancers Manage Finances

manage finances

Project Your Income

At the beginning of the month, make a list of your current clients. Then, estimate your projected monthly income from each client.

If you see right away that you won’t be bringing in enough cash to make it through the month, you’ll know that your first order of business will be to market your skills to attract more clients.

Calculate Your Expenses

It’s pretty easy to keep your expenses low as a freelancer. No longer do you have the expenses of commuting and maintaining an expensive wardrobe.

Basically, your expenses as a freelancer will fall into two major categories:

  • personal expenses such as food, water, shelter, and car
  • business expenses such as Internet, electricity, taxes, equipment, software, and supplies

It can help to keep a simple spreadsheet where you keep track of your business income and expenses. Then, at tax time, it will be relatively easy to sort things out and report accurate numbers.

Create and Follow a Budget

While you’re building your freelancing business, you might not be able to live as you did when you were pulling in a regular paycheck. For example, instead of eating out every night, you might need to learn how to prepare your own meals at home.

Additionally, create a financial plan and follow it. Also, record all your expenses and track the receipts. Stick to your budget and stay disciplined.

The practice of following a budget will give you more peace of mind. In turn, this will allow you to focus on creating a great experience for your clients. Before too long, word will get around, and more clients will come your way. Eventually, you’ll notice that your freelancing business is growing and thriving.

Manage Finances by Saving More Money

When you’re learning to manage finances as a freelancer, remember that saving money is not an option. During those months when clients come calling and you have so much work you can barely keep up, use that additional income to start a rainy day fund.

Then, the next time you have a dry spell, you’ll be glad you did. As a matter of fact, if you can, try to set aside enough cash in a dedicated account to cover your basic expenses for at least four to six months.

However, there may be times when you’ll need to turn to additional resources just to keep going. When that happens, you could apply for an online loan at inexpensive rates and decent terms. For example, Best Moneylender offers good opportunities for funding.

While you’re building your freelancing business, learn to save money wherever you can. Take care of your basic needs and postpone luxury purchases until you’ve built a steady flow of income. And don’t be discouraged if that doesn’t happen overnight.

RELATED ARTICLE: THE SELF-EMPLOYED BUSINESS OWNER’S GUIDE TO SAVING FOR RETIREMENT

Manage
Finances Well for More Freedom as a Freelancer

There’s a lot to like about life as a freelancer. For example, freelancing gives you freedom and the flexibility to work the way you want. However, freelancers who don’t learn how to manage finances well in the beginning can have a difficult time.

Therefore, learn how organize your finances, manage your money wisely, and keep track of your expenses. Learning how to manage finances will give you greater peace of mind and allow you to become an even better freelancer.

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This Protein Drink Entrepreneur Was Able to Raise $8 Million — After Moving Across the Country

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Iconic Protein’s Billy Bosch hit a wall a few years after launching the brand, so he packed up and headed west.


3 min read


How far are you willing to go for your business? For Billy Bosch, the answer was across the country.

The founder of Iconic Protein, a maker of drinks and powders founded in 2013, had some good fortune at the early stages of his company when he was based in New Orleans, winning about $150,000 from pitch competitions. He then was able to secure a low interest loan of $250,000 through a local innovation fund, another $100,000 from a friends-and-family round, and finally a $1 million seed round from New Orleans investors. Still, Bosch needed constant capital to fund production runs, get into retailers and market his brand.

Image credit: Courtesy of Iconic Protein

“New Orleans is a fantastic place to start a business … but when it came to raising a series A, I just couldn’t find the investors there,” Bosch said. “The hunt for money led me out to the West Coast” in 2016.

Related: How the Co-Founder of Noosa Went From Office Drone to $220 Million in Sales

“California is the market for health and wellness,” he added. “I was single. I didn’t have a lot of stuff. So I packed a bag and came out for the summer and crashed on a couch. I started seeing so much success getting into stores from San Diego to Los Angeles, that I’m like, ‘I’ve got to stay out here.'”

Bosch still had to hustle to get money, however. He said it took 250 to 300 meetings to convince 30 investors to fund an $8 million series A round in 2017. But his efforts paid off. Iconic’s ready-to-drink beverages and protein mixes can now be found in more than 6,500 stores. The company said it has averaged more than 150 percent year-over-year revenue growth for the past three years. Its best-selling products are its Chocolate Truffle, Cafe Latte and Vanilla Bean grass-fed dairy protein drinks. The company employs 16 people.

 

Image credit: Courtesy of Iconic Protein

What led Bosch to starting Iconic was his own unhealthy eating habits. Before becoming an entrepreneur, he was a traveling account manager for Shell, eating the “worst food that America has.” A doctor diagnosed him with high cholesterol, indigestion and heartburn, and questioned him about his diet, he said. But when the doctor prescribed him pills, Bosch said he knew he needed to change his diet. So he went to a nutritionist, Molly Kimball, who advised him to eat more protein in the form of a shake.

Related: How a Four Loko Co-Founder Became the Leader of a Plant-Based Protein Beverage Brand

“I went back to her and I brought every protein drink I could find, and piled them on her desk,” Bosch recalled. She said all of them were unhealthy. “So out of frustration, I said why don’t you help me create a drink?”

Bosch worked with Kimball on a formula, which led to the creation of Iconic. (She’s credited with creating the formula, but is not involved with the company.) It’s this development process that Bosch finds most satisfying about running his own company.

“The most satisfying part of this business is when you create a product and then you’re contacted by a customer who says it’s amazing and they drink it every day,” he said. “Most entrepreneurs describe [running a business] as getting kicked in the face every day. The little bit of gratitude that you get from people makes it totally worth it.”

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Finance, Disaster, and You

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The Financier, an often-overlooked 1912 novel by the iconic American writer Theodore Dreiser, isn’t just a page-turning morality tale about early American capitalism. It offers contemporary businesspeople valuable insights on hubris, risk, adversity, and redemption.

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In the News: Former NFLer Turning Attention to Mom-and-Pop Businesses

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Earlier this week, we all snoozed through a large portion of the Super Bowl.

Hopefully, before you dozed off, you were able to catch the story of former NFL star Nolan Carroll.

Nolan never got to play in the Super Bowl during his NFL career, but like nearly 1 in 4 former pro football players, he’s making a play in small business afterward.

He’s teaming up with an international human rights lawyer and launching an app called YOOTROO. It’s designed to help local mom-and-pop businesses, probably just like yours.

His story is not the only NFL start-turned-entrepreneur story we’ve shared. Check out this story on Chris Gronkowski, the brother of Super Bowl champion Rob, and how he’s using Instagram to build his brand.

Football wasn’t the only thing making headlines this week. We also learned about some surprising jobs numbers and a new survey was released on just what people want to see from your social media posts.

Check them all out in our news and information roundup below:

Employment

Economy Adds 300,000 Jobs in January Despite Government Shutdown

The U.S. economy added 304,000 jobs while the unemployment rate rose slightly to 4 percent in the first month of 2019, according to Department of Labor (DOL) data released Friday. January 2019 Jobs Report January marks the 100th straight month of job growth in the U.S., a record more than twice as long as the previous one of 48 months set in June 1990.

Marketing Tips

26% of Gen Z Wants to be Entertained by Your Online Content

Content is the engine that drives today’s digital ecosystem. Whether it is a website, blog, social media channel or even e-commerce, you have to have the right content. And for 26% of Gen Z consumers, you will do better if you entertain them. The data comes from an international study commissioned by WP Engine and conducted by The Center for Generational Kinetics.

Research

30% of Freelance Writers Make Less Than $10 Per Hour Their First Year, Survey Says

Written content has become an integral part of an online presence, and this has created a boon for freelance writers. As more freelance writers enter this segment, the question has to be asked, “How Much Do Freelance Writers Make?” The Pay Survey 2019 from Make a Living Writing is looking to answer this question with the help of 1,400+ participating freelance writers.

Social Media

Big Changes Come for Business Users as Google Plus Shutdown Looms

If you use it for your small business, you probably know the end of Google Plus is near. The consumer side of Google Plus will shut down in April 2019, but the company started implementing changes starting on February 4, 2019. The shutdown comes months before the August 2019 date Google announced in October of 2018.

Taxes

14 Important Dates for Small Businesses in the 2019 Tax Calendar

Tax season is approaching. But for many businesses, managing taxes can be a yearlong undertaking. In fact, there are many different types of deadlines you should be aware of throughout the year. 2019 Tax Calendar Here are the most important tax dates for businesses to know in 2019.

Image: DepositPhotos.com

This article, “In the News: Former NFLer Turning Attention to Mom-and-Pop Businesses” was first published on Small Business Trends



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Even Cupid Needs Customer Feedback

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Customer Reviews Business Cartoon

I swear, every time I buy something somewhere I have the cashier asking me to “take this survey” or “let me know how we did” or “fill this out for a chance at a prize.”

Ugh…

I mean, I know what they’re trying to do, but it gets really, really old.

Still, it did inspire this Valentine’s Day cartoon …

This article, “Even Cupid Needs Customer Feedback” was first published on Small Business Trends



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The 5 Truths All Rental Business Owners Should Know

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Image Source: StartupStockPhotos on Pixabay

Being a rental business owner is not easy. You have to wear many hats at the same time. Whether it is damaged equipment returned by a customer, a missing product, or a scheduling conflict, everything falls on your shoulders. All these mounting responsibilities can be hard to deal with. However, they serve as a great reminder that running a rental business is no easy feat.

Let’s take a
look at five truths all rental business owners should never turn a blind eye
to.

RELATED ARTICLE: HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT PAYMENT METHOD FOR YOUR BUSINESS

1. There Is No 9 to 5. You Have a Rental Business Because You Love It!

Being your own boss might sound attractive. However, it comes with its fair share of troubles. It isn’t all parties and CEO moments. The truth is there is no such thing as a 9-to-5 workday or a clock-in and clock-out for an entrepreneur. Running your own business is much more demanding than that.

For example, if something obstructs your rental operation, you can’t leave it at the risk of it hindering your business processes. Sometimes, steering this ship is an all-around-the-clock thing. You might even need to tend to a 3 am emergency.

But if you’re putting in a ton of effort, you need to make sure that it has the maximum impact. This makes your health a top priority for the health of your business. Therefore, take care of yourself. In other words, account for your energy output and health so you can always cater to tasks to the best of your abilities.

Also, always, always prioritize tasks. Moreover, delegate the ones that someone else can handle. In this way, you can maximize your output.

rental business 2

You have to put your day and night into your business.

Image source: freepik.com

2. People Don’t Just Rent. They Buy the Experience of Renting

There could be many companies in the market that offer the same product lines. While products play a crucial role, they start to lose their importance when everyone has the same offering. That’s where the importance of a wholesome rental experience kicks in. In short, it is not about what products you offer but how you offer them.

Even if most of the rental businesses in town have identical camera brands or party supplies, you can still distinguish yourself from the crowd. Provide a meaningful customer experience to stand out.

For example, offer a pleasant atmosphere, helpful customer service, hassle-free paperwork, and timely deliveries. These all play into how your customers perceive your brand. What’s more, if you focus on all these fronts, you are likely to become a customer favorite.

People are always willing to pay for a better, easier, and more satisfying experience. Therefore, make sure you make it worth their money.

3. Customers Will Not Come to You. You Will Have to Be
Both the Buyer and the
Marketer

Let’s consider this: You have a great product line to rent out. You are using cutting-edge technology and incorporating innovative strategies for better customer experience. However, you still aren’t getting any customers.

The problem is customers don’t come flocking in long queues to a new business. On the contrary, the competitive world of business requires you to aggressively market yourself. It is through consumer-driven marketing, fool-proof content strategies, and growth hacking plans that your business is going to get traction.

rental business 3

You have to spread the word by marketing yourself.

Image source: freepik.com

Therefore, be sure to study ongoing rental and marketing trends, and always try to be in the shoes of the buyer. What are they expecting and what will move them to make a purchase? Thinking like a buyer will make you a better marketer. Moreover, it will help establish a permanent spot for your business in your target audience’s mind.

4. Overnight Success Doesn’t Exist. You Can’t Do It
Without Consistency

There is no such thing as overnight success. Notably, all successful business owners will testify to the fact that getting your first 10 clients is going to be the hardest feat that you’ll accomplish in your career.

Often, another company’s hard work does not gain a lot of attention. What’s more, it might seem like certain companies made it to the top because luck was on their side. However, that’s far from the truth. In most cases, they worked day and night to get to that stage of their career.

The bottom line is that there’s no route leading to instant success. You have to put in the necessary hours. Only in this way will you establish a strong footing for your business, especially in the beginning when you’re juggling multiple tasks.

However, once you know the ins and outs of your industry and all the ongoing trends, you can grow your team and outsource tasks. Remember to keep notes on all the mistakes you made while doing every task and what you learned from them. After that, share what you’ve learned with your employees so you can help them grow as well. In a nutshell, switch from hard work to smart work.

5. Your Product Line Isn’t Exclusive. There Are
Plenty of Other Fish in the Sea

Most rental businesses offer items that are popular among renters. This makes it hard to offer innovative product lines and gives rise to cut-throat competition.

There are probably companies out there that are much better than you. That’s because they feature a greater variety of products, offer better pricing, or use marketing strategies that instantly connect with their audience.

However, there’s no reason to lose heart. Instead of being discouraged, you can use this to your advantage and try to improve yourself. In other words, turn your competition into your driving force. Use it to continually re-evaluate your strategies. Who exactly is your target audience? What are others in your field doing differently? What’s more, how can you position yourself better in the market?

In short, focusing your efforts on the right people along with the right strategies will help you grow sustainably and outrun your competition. Moreover, to automate the process and keep your data secure, you can implement online rental software across your organization.

Running Your Rental Business Can Be a Rewarding Experience

Whether your business is a furniture rental, equipment rental, or party rental, there are some downsides of being a rental business owner.

However, it’s only a problem if you see it that way. You really only need to have a thick skin and a drive to pursue excellence, and you will be able to succeed. Without these two qualities, you might give up on what could’ve been a large enterprise.

On the other hand, if you’ve committed yourself to your business, don’t let harsh realities bring you down. That’s because there is always something waiting to be created, customers waiting to be served, and opportunities waiting to be made the most of.

And YOU can
make it happen!

Author Bio

Kiran is a content writer and marketer at EZRentOut, which offers equipment rental software for SMBs, mid-sized rental businesses, enterprises and more. She is a guest writer and an MBA graduate. Kiran is enthusiastic about the way technology interacts with contemporary businesses. She is willing to explore beyond her knowledge.

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Bumble’s Austin Headquarters Is All About Good Vibes

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The dating app’s employees are big on in-office engagement and out-of-office socializing.


4 min read

This story appears in the
January 2019
issue of
Entrepreneur. Subscribe »

Bumble’s got good buzz. The dating app — which gives women the power to make the first move — launched in 2014 and has since expanded to help users meet new friends and make professional connections, too. CEO Whitney Wolfe Herd originally worked at Tinder but left and alleged that its cofounders engaged in sexual harassment and discrimination. She in turn created Bumble, a company obsessively focused on its culture. Its Austin, Tex., headquarters is known as the Beehive and promotes a cheery sense of community, bolstered by sunshine-yellow walls, playful decor (signs that say bee kind), and plenty of happy hours, volunteer sessions, and even some parades. 

Related: Anheuser-Busch’s New York Office is Home to the Workplace Brewery of Your Dreams

Caitlin Sullivan / Senior manager, people and culture 

“For reviews, every employee comes up with a proposal for how their responsibilities, compensation, and title should change based on the impact they’ve made. This gives our female employees — who’ve been socialized to not speak about compensation and career growth — the tools to negotiate their salaries.”

Anh Dang / Senior merchandise manager 

“When the city of Austin was celebrating Pride, most of the office met up, fully decked out in Pride merch, and walked the parade. With other companies, it can be like pulling teeth to get your coworkers to go out together on the weekend, but we’re all for it here.”

Elizabeth Monteleone / Legal counsel

“[My colleague] Caitlin Sullivan and I actually met on Bumble BFF in May. We went on some friend hangouts, and she mentioned this role was available. She asked if I’d be interested, and I said, ‘Absolutely!’ We’re a real Bumble success story.”

Related: I Visited the Bumble Hive to See What All the Buzz Is About

Kyra Seay / Special projects coordinator 

“I had the pleasure of starting at Bumble about a week ago. ‘Beekeepers’ are employees who volunteer to welcome the new folks. A beekeeper is assigned to a new hire, gives them a personalized tour, gets to know them, and on the company’s dime, you can go get a smoothie or a coffee. I chose both.”

Courtney Moreau / Curator of vibes 

“When I saw the job listing for ‘curator of vibes,’ a little voice of intuition whispered to me, This is you. My job is to make sure everyone has what they need inside the office and to help celebrate special moments with our team, whether that’s a company Friendsgiving or planning for employee birthdays.” 

Tareen Alam / Creative content manager 

“A lot of my meetings are in response to current events. If something’s happening related to feminism, empowerment, or leadership — it’s been an interesting time with #MeToo and #BelieveWomen — the edit team will get on a call to talk about how we can speak to it.” 

Related: Snowboard Giant Burton’s Headquarters Are Big on Dogs, Gardening and Snow Days

Justin Balanon / Influencer marketing manager

“My job is to help negotiate contracts with talent from the influencer community. We want them to join our mission to make the world a kinder place. I used to sell influencer marketing, and it was about products. This is more about asking people, ‘Do you want to be a part of this movement to make gender equality a reality?’”

Click Image to Enlarge

Image Credit: Adam Friedberg

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10 Ways to Improve Your Company’s Office Culture

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10 Ways to Improve Your Office Culture

The numbers speak for themselves—having a work environment that engages employees is just as important as good sales numbers and loyal customers.

How to Improve Office Culture

Here’s 10 ways you can make your company’s office culture better.

Be Transparent  

A company that wants to build an office culture where everyone feels engaged needs to be open and transparent. Making sure that your office is positioned for growth means spotting and fixing problems before they knock everyone off course.

Being transparent means sharing the lessons from any failures or mistakes. When you hide shortcomings from employees, you’re only maintaining an office and not fostering a culture.

One quick way to get this ball rolling is to let employees submit anonymous questions that get answered by management at scheduled meetings.

Stop the Burnout Cycle  

It’s important for business leaders to understand that a healthy work environment means long term growth. Burning people out so the company succeeds has always been a bad idea, more so now when skilled people are in short supply.

Scheduling the week’s work in advance can make all the difference. There’s lots of software on the market that can help you and your team take the needless hustle out of your office like this offering from Zoho.

Dress Appropriately

Working in an office means that you need to be respectful of your clients and fellow co workers. Common sense needs to prevail. Even though many dress codes are more relaxed these days, you still need to be mindful of how you represent your employer by what you wear.

Align Your Office Culture with the Bigger Picture

When you’re looking to shape an office culture, you need to be sure you’re designing something that can fold into the bigger company picture.  Do your teams work together toward clearly defined goals or do you foster competition to boost sales numbers?

You might need to brainstorm across several departments here to get input.

Foster Collaboration  

This needs to come from the top down so it spreads through your small business. Hosting a social team event is a great way to break barriers down so everyone gets to know each other on a personal level.

Define the Mission  

If you want everyone to work together and be on the same page, you need to tell them clearly what’s on it. Start by tackling the tough questions like what people can expect from working in your office and what values are front and center for your business.

Don’t Come to Work Sick  

You might fall behind on a project or two if you’re sick and stay a home to recoup. However, coming in when you’ve got a bug can give the whole office the sniffles.

Use Technology  

Everyone needs to be on the same page for your staff to stay motivated. There’s a variety of digital tools to get that done like Alexa For Business. This is a great way to alert everyone quickly when there’s a meeting or big announcement.

Maintain Office Equipment 

Motivating people to do great work is at least partially about giving them the right tools to work with. Preferably ones that are well maintained. Slow computers that crash a lot can actually be an unnecessary anchor on your office atmosphere and production both.

Keep the Atmosphere Bright  

The right lighting makes a big difference.  Natural light and plenty of windows actually improves the energy level and motivation.

Image: Depositphotos.com

This article, “10 Ways to Improve Your Company’s Office Culture” was first published on Small Business Trends



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