The pace of daily life, especially in the workplace, is faster than ever. Companies across the board, especially startups, are taking a fresh approach to the way they manage productivity. And the buttoned up, 40-hour workweek is quickly giving way to flex hours, remote offices, and casual, tech-friendly environments.
Conventional policies and procedures have become outdated, and what used to be no-brainer work mentalities (such as clock-in, clock-out) are now being second-guessed by employees and employers alike. As companies, old and new, try to figure out how to navigate this gray area, here are five basic principles worth implementing that will never go out of style.
1. Keep things professional
Startups are just that, young. Adboom and other new companies in the tech space are recruiting talent right out of college. Couple that with young founders, who will undoubtedly hire from within their own networks, and you have an office that resembles the cast of “90210.” When you put a group of ambitious, hard-working, and social 20- and-30-somethings together for any number of consecutive days, friendships are bound (and encouraged) to develop. Late weeknights bleed into weekends and suddenly your coworkers have become your second family. When a certain level of comfort is reached, it’s easy to forget your manners. Don’t.
Professionalism in the workplace should never take a hit just because of a relaxed and casual environment. If recent lawsuits filed against the likes of Tinder, Snapchat, and Zillow have taught us anything, it’s that even a single, misguided comment can permanently damage a hard-earned company culture. As soon as you walk through the front doors of your building, or log in to the company chat, or even open your e-mail, it’s time to switch gears. Open-floor concepts aren’t the same thing as a high school cafeteria—your best bet is to assume that if it could be offensive to somebody, it can wait. You’ll probably realize later that it wasn’t that funny to begin with anyway.
2. Respect Is contagious (and productive)
Time is precious. It is the one, universal resource that holds equal value across the board. Keep that in mind when you schedule or accept meetings with your employees, coworkers, and bosses. Even in the most relaxed work culture, preparedness and promptness do not go unnoticed, and can only benefit you in the long term. Creating an agenda, sending out reminders, and giving immediate notice in the event of a conflict all play into the respect you give and the respect you will get in return, especially in the lenient environment of a startup, where it’s easy to neglect such a basic, yet powerful, principle.
3. Ignorance Is never bliss
No matter how comfortable you may feel, always remember that you are, first and foremost, an employee. The last thing you want is to find yourself in a less than desirable situation that came about as a result of miscommunication, or a lack of knowledge. Be aware of all policies, procedures, and expectations that apply to you, even if it means asking what may come across as a “stupid” question. As Adboom transitioned from a fledgling start up to a bonafide company, so did the necessity for clarity and transparency for the sake of both the employer and the employee. HR is just that, a resource, so use it. It is always in a company’s best interest to lay all the cards out on the table from the get-go, rather than face the threat of public defamation in the form of a lawsuit later down the line.
4. Drop the word ‘deserve’ from your vocabulary
Millennials face quite the uphill battle when it comes to our reputation. We’ve been referred to as lazy, spoiled, brainwashed, uneducated, medicated, and so very, very entitled. Whether or not these insults are true, we still have to combat them. Step one: be thankful. Step two: prove them wrong. Choose the path of “work and earn” instead of always cutting corners; there’s something to be said for giving 100 percent, especially in the face of adversity. If, even after proving your worth and giving it your all, the value you know you bring to the table is not recognized, don’t let bitterness or attitude become your legacy, but don’t be complacent either. The founders of Adboom didn’t get to where they are now, and where they’re headed, by waiting patiently for opportunity to come to them. They sought it out and worked incredibly hard in order to earn their stripes. When you turn yourself into an asset, regardless of the title you currently hold, you’re doing the rest of your generation a favor (and we could use all the help we can get).
5. Stop, drop (your phone), and listen
In our world of laptops, tablets, cellphones, smart watches, smart glasses, and digitally induced comas (Netflix anyone?), it’s easy to be constantly distracted. Add in open floorplans holding a mix of developers, analysts, executives, financial gurus, and self-proclaimed ping-pong champions, and you have yourself a modern day circus. How does one try to navigate such a maze? It’s easy—don’t. Remove yourself from the maze completely. An open floor plan is not an open invitation to bother the person next to you at your convenience. If you have a question, put it in writing. If you need help, schedule a meeting. When you’re working with someone, give him or her your full attention; never interrupt them. Stop trying to rush everyone and simply take a moment to stop and listen amidst the constant buzz of technology. It’s refreshing, productive, and will be noticeably appreciated.
Photo credit: Lauren Kallen