3 Ways to Empower & Transform Your Company Into a Community

The value of community has never been more important in today’s workplace. Corporations and startups have embraced the transformation of the modern-day office, integrating non-work related projects, 1-on-1’s, and rooftop meetings (tweet tweet).

We are seeing a shift, where product-driven companies are becoming product-driven AND employee-centric communities.

For those hoping to transform their company into a community, also known as the New Workplace, there are two questions leaders should ask before jumping on the bandwagon :

What is the value of community in the workplace?

and

How can we set the foundation for the New Workplace?

One exciting example of community in the workplace is at Honey, the coupon-finding, browser-extension company. Mauro, an Engineering Director at Honey, describes their work culture in an interview with Built In LA, where they talk about Honey’s emphasis on providing employees of all levels outlets to exchange ideas and receive feedback. There are a couple of threads in Honey’s model that align with a product-driven, employee-centric community.

First, Honey allows and encourages employees to go outside of their comfort zone and beyond their job descriptions to exchange ideas. When we realize that people have so much more to offer than their job duties and create initiatives that allow people to explore their untapped potential, we set up a mechanism to capture the innovation that many companies are so set on achieving. Great products and great solutions often come from people who are working on the ground, closest to the day-to-day action.

Second, because feedback is at the core of Honey’s engineering architecture, authentic communication lines are ingrained in the company’s culture. Employees aren’t afraid to challenge the status quo and trust their colleagues to be receptive to their input. The ability to voice ideas, suggestions, and concerns enable people to feel invested in their work and their team. In essence, support (opportunities) and trust (responsiveness to feedback) make the difference between a company and a community.

But, is all of that valuable? You tell me. Honey was recently acquired by Paypal for $4 billion.

Okay, so how do we take the value of community and transition into the New Workplace?

It doesn’t matter what you sell. It doesn’t matter how large your company is. It doesn’t matter if you don’t know what your community will look like. What is important, however, is that we set the foundation with the following:

Invite Curiosity

Experimentation is an intentional playground that encourages curious people to try new things. In many cases, it allows people to let go of their fear of failure. From bold product initiatives to miscellaneous shenanigans, a real community allows people to exercise their curiosity. Are some employees excluded because of their title or status? Challenge this and make sure every employee can say, “I get to explore at work.”

Until that happens, you’ll never get to see the full potential of individuals in your workplace.

Reinforce Collaboration

Intentionally creating opportunities for team members to engage with people outside of their department leads to spontaneous conversations, shared perspectives, and stronger connections. Communities are fluid and evolving, not static. If people in your company are tied to their desks and only know the names of colleagues on their team, they literally don’t know what they are missing. Collaboration is the sidecar partner to Curiosity, allowing us to see the unique combinations of skills and passion that individuals can bring to the organization.

Create (Authentic) Feedback Loops

Intentional one-on-one’s, outlined professional and personal goals, feedback that genuinely allows people to embed their voice in the direction and improvement of the company is the only way to prevent people from jumping ship. To put it like this, would you stay on a boat going to a destination that didn’t match yours?

The New Workplace shows the value of community by encouraging people to act on their curiosity and connect with their coworkers.

We’d like to know – how are you building community in your workplace?