Friend: Hey, Ajay! I owe you big time!
Ajay: You look jubilant!
Friend: That tip you gave me really worked. I started looking out for bullies at my company, took some measures to check it and the churn rates have significantly come down.
Ajay: Im glad I could help.
Friend: You also mentioned how people have started valuing other things over wages and the importance of maintaining a good work culture. So is there some thumb rule you follow to ensure that your company is a great place for people to build their career?
Ajay: Yes, you can use the ABC rule.
Friend: Sounds interesting! What does it stand for?
Ajay: Acceptance, Belongingness and Creativity.
Friend: Would you mind elaborating?
Ajay: No.1 – Accept people for who they are. An organisation will have people with different backgrounds, different perspectives, different ideas and different approaches. Do not try to turn them all into some bots cast in the same mould. Your company will benefit a great deal from diversity, your employees will learn a lot from each other and your office will be a delightful place to work.
Friend: Totally agree.
Ajay: No.2 – Make them feel belonged. You didnt singlehandedly build your company ground up. Your employees hard work has contributed to it significantly. So, give them the due credit. Reward their work. Show them compassion. Instead of sitting in an ivory throne and passing orders, make them feel this is their company too. People give their 200 percent to something when they feel belonged.
Friend: Absolutely. And no.3?
Ajay: Allow space for peoples creativity. Sure, things might have worked a certain way for long. But that doesnt mean a new way wouldnt. Your product or service might have been a great hit, but you stick to the same thing and you are practically waiting to bite the dust. So allow and encourage creativity at your workplace. Let people know their creative juices can flow. A space where people can be creative and innovative is what motivates them the most.
Friend: Brilliant! You wouldnt mind if I implemented the same at my office, would you?
Ajay: My friend, we all get to the peak together, or we dont get there at all.