What Makes A Great Employer?

We've all seen the memes about pizza parties and improving company culture. Although a pizza shout can still be part of that, what makes a great employer? We have been fortunate enough to have worked in many organisations. Here's a few things that we have noticed about the truly great companies;

Ownership - Have clear direction; know where you are going, and how you will get there and communicate this effectively. Provide the tools to allow your staff to do their work and leave them to get on with it. Continue with plenty of informal feedback but try to avoid micro-managing.

Career - Give people something meaningful to work on outside of their day-to-day work. Ideas on work practices and change processes (the way change is implemented) should be from the bottom-up, not the top-down. Vary training practices & encourage movement within your organisation.

Environment - No one likes working in a cramped dark cold cupboard. Have plenty of natural light, provide places to relax and make these places feel like 'home'.

Happiness - happiness keeps people motivated. Value each person; celebrating birthdays and festive events, perhaps this is where the pizza parties do actually play a part.

Fantastic Managers - They genuinely care for their people. They don't refer to them as employees, workers, or staff, they always refer to their 'people'. Regardless of how busy they are with their own work, they are curious and engaged with their team members.

He aha te mea nui? He tangata, he tangata, he tangata. What is the most important thing in the world? It is people, it is people, it is people.