Last week, we had a young lady on work experience at the studios and a local handyman doing some repairs. The pair of them hit it off, as you may well surmise from this post on our instagram
Later on in the afternoon, my friend who is the handyman, who has just retired from a long career working in London on the maintenance team for one of London's most prestigious organisations commented that he was enjoying working at the studio and had never worked anywhere as chilled or relaxed. It got me thinking about the various 'proper jobs' I had in my life. For the first 15 years of it's life, Mill Hill Music Complex was a not for profit musicians collective, with any profit being ploughed back in to enable us to have the best gear to rehearse with. In 1994, I embarked, with new partners, on an ambitious 15 year plan to build it into London's pre-eminent independent music rehearsal complex. I will leave the success of that scheme to other to decide. My plan was to retire from my more sensible career in 2009 and concentrate on music. It didn't quite work out like that, taking another eight years.
In my career in IT, I worked for a range of the best known companies in the UK. I don't talk about it too much, not least due to non disclosure agreements etc. But my friends comment made me think about the places I worked at. The first IT job I had, I started 40 years ago in October, for SPL International. This was one of the UK's top software companies at the time. Rather bizarrely, I started on a Friday. The reason? There was a team booze up and curry at lunchtime. My boss wanted me to meet the team. I ended my first day fairly bladdered. On Saturday, when I sobered up, I realised my first day had consisted of turning up, going for a curry, going to the pub and staggering home at 9pm. I wondered if I would still have a job when I got in on Monday.
I was surprised to find that no one batted an eyelid. The job was a joy. I was 21 and so were many of the people I worked with, as the firm took 40-50 graduates a year. There was a work hard, play hard mentality. Many were doing their first job and were fresh out of University. The company actively encouraged us to socialise, whilst making it clear we had to work when work needed to be done. I was never pressured to work. Often, I'd find work for myself. If I had nothing to do, I'd help Ted, the Maintenance guy, to fix doors etc. I also got a strong grounding in the job. The atmosphere was relaxed and the firm gave the team cash every month for a team booze up.
After about a year, disaster struck. Another software company called System Designers bought the company. There was a different culture. After about a year, I was informed I couldn't contune to do my job, as they only employed Graduates and I was too thick. So I went off to new pastures new. To my horror, I learned that not all offices are the same. In some, an air of mysery pervades, only cushioned by a doubling of salary. In truth, the work was amazing and I enjoyed that, but none of the miserable buggers ever wanted a beer after work. After my then boss tried to humiliate me when my father unexpectedly died (yes really), I'd had enough. I left for a far less interesting job, where a mate worked and they liked a beer. A 30% payrise again cushioned the blow of not being the top man on a brilliant project, but I had good work and it was pleasant. After 18 months, I'd had enough of the less interesting work. I got another job, with another 25% pay rise and even more boring work. Sadly there was not much of a team spirit. After around 3 years, they had a voluntary redundancy scheme and gave me around £12,000 to go. This meant I could travel, which had been my long term plan.
I arranged a leaving do and a mate offered me a short term contract with a 50% pay rise. Seemed like a no brainer to delay the travel for 9 months, which turned into 18. The work was hell, the environment was hell, but I earned a lot of cash so was happy. Then I travelled for three months.
When I got back, I got a six month contract, at the same money. It lasted 14 years and was good work and a wonderful working environment. When it finished, I went elsewhere, and it was well paid, but a bit grim. In 2012, I decided the time had come to end my IT career and focus on the studio. Sadly, the building project for our new studio went very badly, took a year longer than anticipated and by 2013, I had run out of cash, so got a very good IT job at Lloyds bank, to tide me over. It was a great environment and wonderful work. In late 2015, a mate persuaded me to join him elsewhere. I was promised riches, stature and interesting work. I jumped and it was the worst thing I ever did. The project got cancelled, the atmosphere was terrible and after 18 months, it finished. The only good thing was the finances were sorted and it affirmed that my love affair with IT was over.
So what was the big lesson I learned? It was that it makes no difference at all to your productivity whether you are happy or miserable. However, if you are happy, you tend to stay longer and live longer. Why would anyone ever choose to be miserable, when they could be happy. Some bosses try and make a good environment. I am going for a beer with one of my good ex bosses tonight. A man I respect. There are some I'd run a mile from if I saw them. Some times it isn't the boss that causes the problems, just a toxic member of staff. Whatever it is, if it isn't working, I'd start looking for something else.
Of all the bosses I've had, the worst of all was perhaps the most surprised when I left. I had a s debrief from HR (or personel as it used to be called). They asked why I was leaving. I told them that I couldn't work for someone who delighted in upsetting people. To my surprise, they said that no one had ever said this about the individual before. I asked how many people had left the department in the last six months. The answer was about 1/4 of the team members. I pointed out that they were all newer members of staff and bright. It was clear to me that they couldn't stand the work environment. They said "The department has always had good staff retention". I replied that it didn't have now. If you are not holding on to staff, especially new ones, you should be looking at why. It costs money to recruit. I don't think a drinking culture is necessary to have a good work environment. When I worked at Lloyds, we did things like entering fun runs, going to comedy clubs and doing other team events. There was a scheme where staff could be appreciated. As I was in management, I always exploited this too the full and several staff told me it was nice to be appreciated. Another manager told me that he didn't bother because staff should "just do their jobs". It was missing the point and if the company was willing to buy your team a curry or a key staff member a hamper for doing a good job, then take it.
I have realised that good leadership means happy staff, staff who stay longer. It may or may not improve productivity, but as stress is bad for health, it is the sensible thing to do. When here is no reason why you shouldn't enjoy your job, except for the whims of your boss, make sure you work for a boss who's whim is to make you happy.
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