A positive work environment is essential. I am sure this is not a new idea to any of you; I mean who wants to work in a place where they dislike the people they work with. Coming to work every day is made much more enjoyable by the fact that I love everyone in the office.
In his book, “The 5 Levels of Leadership,” John C. Maxwell discusses this exact point. He explains how a positive work environment increases the energy level and as a result adds to productivity.
“When you invest time and effort to get to know people and build good relationships, it actually pays off with greater energy once the relationships are built. And in that kind of positive, energetic environment, people are willing to give their best because they know the leaders want the best for them.”
While I might not have a plethora of experience in this department, I can say one thing — developing a strong, cohesive team begins with the hiring process.
Here at Peake Media, hiring is not something we take lightly. As a small, tight knit company, hiring the wrong person could throw the whole team off balance. Therefore we take our time. First interviewing over the phone, then bringing them to the office for an extensive in-person interview to determine if their personality fits with our unique office culture and core values.
Each candidate is interviewed with the entire team present to make sure we all agree on the decision. While this might be hard with larger companies, conducting a group interview with several employees will help to get an overall office consensus about the candidate.
It is also essential to take your time, don’t rush the process. You don’t have to make a decision on the spot. After the interview, we all take time to discuss the candidate, the pros and cons and whether we all feel he or she will be the best fit.
Finally, go with your gut. While the candidate might seem like the best fit on paper, if you have any reservations or a nagging feeling in the back of your mind, that might be for a good reason. Hiring is not something to take lightly. You want employees to stick around for a long time, so picking the right person is crucial.
Do you have any hiring practices you have found extremely beneficial? Feel free to share them with us!
