Creating a High-Octane Culture
Contributed by David Mammano, the founder and CEO of Next Step Publishing, Inc., based in Victor, New York.
As an entrepreneur, my employees are my strongest investment. Ninety-nine percent of my company’s assets are out the door at 5 p.m. every day. Without this passionate and committed team, my business wouldn’t exist. That’s why it’s important for me to get people excited about their jobs; to create a high-octane culture that encourages growth and excitement. Here are five things I do to energize my employees:
- Plan an awesome orientation. It all starts with a warm welcome to the company. I make it a point to take every new hire out to lunch and talk about the history of my company; the growth; the good, the bad and the ugly, etc. This lets them connect to me and the company. New employees also spend the first two weeks getting to know everyone through one-on-one meetings, group lunches and a position-oriented “boot camp.”
- Celebrate accomplishments. Remember those school field trips? I brought them back. By combining learning with adventure, I ensure my employees are never bored. I’ve taken my team rock climbing, to museums, boat rides, wine tastings and more. It’s always a blast to mingle outside of the office. Plus, it shows my employees that I care about who they are and their role within the company.