Let’s be honest… starting a new job can be scary! Yes, it’s exciting but it can also be terrifying. You are leaving the bubble that you have been so comfortable in for 2,5 or even 10 years. You are entering ‘unknown territory’, you become the ‘newbie’ and essentially you are bursting your little bubble of comfort.
Working in recruitment we speak to candidates every day about the reasons why they may be looking to move roles. The top 2 driving factors that I encounter are;
- There is no room for progression in their current role.
- The culture is bad.
Around 6 months ago I found myself in a similar position to many of my candidates. I was disengaged, demotivated and generally unhappy not just in work, but outside of work also.
In broad terms when you are exposed to this environment 5 days a week, 38+ hours a week your output is lower. You dread the thought of walking through the office doors and it can impact your overall well-being. I know many people who have been in similar situations where they lose sleep worrying about how to make it through the next day and find themselves to have less motivation to interact with friends and keep active after work hours.
You find yourself without real goals, where you don’t aim for the best results, instead simply just aiming for the end of the day.
It was time to take control of my career and stop my fears from moving myself forward personally and professionally. With this I started my new role. It was only a small shift in terms of the scope of my role and the industry I was recruiting in. However, the major difference was the company culture and this difference was all that was required in order to bring about the necessary change.
Company culture is extremely powerful. It impacts profits, morale, attraction of talent and turnover. It has everything to do with how employees, clients and the general market perceive your organisation. I did not realise how much the actual culture of a company can impact your role and there are 3 things that changed in my role when the overall culture around me changed.
1. Employee performance
In a strong culture, employees feel valued and therefore can make decisions that achieve a higher level of performance. You enjoy control over your job instead of feeling powerless. Strong culture will also give the opportunity for employees to grow. Offering career development, training and promotions can keep employees motivated which in turn will improve performance. If everyone is in it together, employees will put forth the extra effort to achieve their goals.
2. Employee happiness
A positive culture will leave employees satisfied with their role. Flexibility, employee development and work-life balance all have a part to play in this. If you feel supported and empowered with the knowledge and skills you need to fulfil your role, your overall happiness will be increased.
3. Employee engagement
There are a few things that contribute to employee engagement.
Communication – A strong culture means that employees know that their opinions and ideas are welcomed. When you feel heard, you won’t carry the resentment that can result in poor morale and turnover. A communicative culture also leads to greater participation and innovation.
Collaboration – A collaborative culture promotes autonomous decision making and teamwork. Employees should be given the opportunity to contribute, be set up for success and be able to build relationships with managers and colleagues.
Growth – A culture that fosters employee development and growth gives employees something to work towards. It keeps your role exciting and interesting instead of feeling stagnated.
In the highly competitive market that we operate in, companies should promote that they are businesses you would want to work for. Smart organisations understand that a strong positive culture is one of their most important assets. I firmly believe that the culture of Miller Leith is one of their best assets and all of the three points listed above have increased in my working and personal life since I started my new role.
My advice for anyone feeling deflated and demotivated in their current role – take the leap and look for a company where you feel valued and where you can actually contribute to the culture and make a positive impact. It may be the best thing you ever do!