Most people out there have jobs. Webster defines a job as a regular remunerative position. Basically, something to do on a regular basis to get paid. If you ask me, that just sounds boring? Right??? I mean, don’t get me wrong, getting paid is a good thing, but wow, what a boring description. That sad reality is too many people just have a “job”. If you read along to part 2 of this series (More Than Pizza On Fridays), you had a chance to read about a culture that was fully committed to each other and the customers. As the level of engagement and commitment continue to grow there is a phrase I often hear from team members that I absolutely love. “It’s weird, this doesn’t even feel like a job.”
Those are the moments when I know we are functioning really well, the culture is strong and we have more of a purpose than just doing a job. The truth of the matter… people do NOT want a job. Yes, they want to get paid, but they really do not want to have a place they just show up to fulfill an obligation. What people really want is to be a part of something. They want to thrive, they want to exceed expectations of their team members and of clients. But, they want to do this in an environment where it is rewarding and enjoyable to go that extra mile.
I think many people are short sighted when they think of the impact of creating this environment. The short sighted view of this is that it creates a dynamic work environment where team members work well together to grow together and exceed expectations of clients. You may ask, how in the world is that short sighted??? That seems like a great thing. You are right. It is. But it is still short sighted. As I write this I can reflect on three separate interactions with people outside our organization trying to figure out how to join our team. All three individuals currently have “jobs” or just recently left a “job” and they are looking for something more. They have heard about our team and they want in.
In a time when it may be more challenging to find the right fit for your team, doesn’t it make sense to focus on making your environment so great for your current team members that it naturally attracts the new team members. And the good news, the type of people that hear about this type of culture and desperately want in are usually the type of people who make a great fit. While I don’t want anyone on our team to feel like they just have a “job”, I definitely don’t want to hire anyone who is just looking for a “job”. When you focus on “more than pizza on Fridays” it leads to people showing up to do a lot more than “just a job”.
