Over the course of my career, I’ve been lucky enough to have been a part of some incredible companies. From fast growing startups to industry leaders, I’ve seen what it takes for successful organizations to truly thrive.
What do they all have in common? Every business faces a set of challenges specific to their industry, offering, and competitors, so it’s not how they go to market. Every product or service, too, is unique, meaning the ideal R&D process is equally unique.
At their core, the successful businesses I’ve been a part of have one characteristic in common: their people.
Here at ThoughtSpot, we’re no different. From building the leading search-driven analytics platform to changing the way the world uses data in the cloud, our team is behind every success, which is why being named a Best Place to Work by Glassdoor is such a meaningful accolade.
So how do you build the type of company that not only attracts, but gives exceptional talent the platform to do the best work of their lives? Of course, every company is different and requires its own approach, but here are three tactics I’ve found that actually work.
Listen to Your Employees.
It may seem simple, but the first step in creating a workplace your employees want to work for is to listen to them. High performers want to know they are actively contributing to the success of your organization. If they feel ignored or shut out, you’re instantly limiting their stake in the company.
But listening isn’t enough. You need to act on what your employees are telling you. This is where I’ve seen organizations struggle the most, especially as they grow. It’s why processes and tools become important. At ThoughtSpot, we use tools like OfficeVibe to get regular pulse checks from employees, both quantitatively and qualitatively.
At the end of the day, treat your employees like the cherished, intelligent people they are. Respect them enough to trust their answer when they tell you what they need to do the best work possible.
Care for Your Team.
Incredible employees and teams aren’t incredible by accident. They are made up of people who work hard and deliver the best result possible, for themselves and the rest of their organization.
That’s why it’s so important to put the same care into your team they do for their work. This care should be evident in every decision you make that impacts an employee.
Take, for example, employee benefits. While these decisions often seem made in a black box, we took the time to carefully explain our own process for evaluating providers so employees would understand how much thought and consideration for the team went into each decision. Subsequently, we continue to be at the top tier of medical coverage for our employees and their families.
Empower Employees to Thrive
The last, and perhaps most important, tactic comes down to giving your employees the ability to drive their own success. Everyone wants to have some power over their professional lives. The best employees want to be in control of and accountable for their work. The best organizations empower them to do so.
At ThoughtSpot, this manifests in a few ways. Our flat culture facilitates direct access to executives for anyone in the organization. Our leaders not only want, but explicitly ask for employees to share ideas and feedback. It also comes out in how we structure teams. We want our team to be responsible for outcomes, so they can own the process to best deliver those outcomes.
People are the heart and soul of every organization. I’m thrilled to see ThoughtSpot named a best place to work by Glassdoor, but even more excited about the future. We’re only 2% done.
