What is the definition of a Great Company?
You often hear people relating great companies (to work for) to companies such as Google or Facebook, but why? What is the definition of a “Great” company? Is it the attractive compensation package ? Or those nice and colorful offices? Or perhaps, the flexible working hours? I believe the reasons can be very subjective but here are my top 3 reasons of a great company:
“Great culture lies with the people, not the company.”
Great companies realize the importance of happy employees and invest in nurturing positive work culture and environment because “Happy employees create happy customers”. For me, people (colleagues) are one of the most important aspects to look for.
Personally, I am blessed to be working with many amazing colleagues in my workplace. We practice a simple rule called the “5-minute rule” and it means that you should start seeking for help if you realize that you are stuck for 5-minutes. This concept encourages you to not only have the mentality to seek for help when needed but also to provide support when your colleague comes to you (for help). Now, you might think: “Isn’t this spoon-feeding?” Well, I don’t think so because you either know that you can complete a task or you don’t after attempting it for the first 5 minutes. This also stop you from procrastinating.
Great cultures are often easier said than done. Many people see nurturing working culture as the responsibility of the leader or management of the company but I beg to disagree. To me, great culture lies with the people, not the company.
“Supports the career growth of its employee vertically and horizontally.”
As part of my role leading a team, I have had many discussions about career growth and motivation at work. One of the most commonly discussed topic was: “How can I progress in my career?” and my advice is always the same: “Explore different horizons within your role.”
Many (large) organizations may have designated roles for its employees but that does not mean one is confined by his/her role. More often than not, the limitation comes from the individual. A great company, in this case, supports the career growth of its employee vertically and horizontally. I personally believe that there are always opportunities at work and you should not be bound to your role. Taking my own experience as an example, my main role is as a Business Analyst but I am also a team manager. Throughout my journey in the company, I have also explored different areas horizontally, to list a few:
- Becoming a hiring manager
- Managing (defining) a product roadmap.
- Involve in product marketing.
- Involve in pre-sales.
- Organizing events for the company.
These were the experiences which diversified my profile and supported my career growth.
In the end, it is not about what role you are having, it is about what you want to explore. Together with the self-motivation and the opportunities within your organization, you will excel.
“A company that changes tomorrow.”
In today’s world, you see rapid evolution in technologies and increasing adoption rate of new technologies across all industries. People, technology and information are far more connected than before and people are talking about Artificial intelligence (AI), Automation, Augmented Reality, Integrated Solutions, 5G technology and Cloud solutions more often than before.
Therefore, it is extremely important for companies to not only be able to adapt, breakthrough and evolve, but to be the leading catalyst in such transformation. So ask yourself: what do you know about your company’s vision and how does it contribute to changing today’s norms and creating a better tomorrow? More importantly, how do you create meaningful impact in line with that vision?
As an example, I invite you to read a post about how Dassault Systèmes is helping to battle global pandemics such as COVID-19 by providing simulation of the new hospital’s HVAC system in China
The world is ever-changing and the most exciting career journey one would ask for is to be part of a company that changes tomorrow.
Here is my top 3 reasons of a great company to work for. What’s yours?
Senior HR Recruiter at NextStep
1moA great company is still financing an office in Russia?
GEOVIA Strategy & Alliances, Sustainability Strategy Engineer at Dassault Systèmes
4yHello Teck We Tan, I really like your article. I would also add for me that a good company is a company that recognize the value you bring. Yes, I know, you shouldn't only value your work on others' appreciation. However when your colleagues say "Thanks your work really makes my life easier", or when you can tell that people know you made a difference to the business, it gives you the energy to take on the next challenge :)