SMBTech Summit 2020 - Building Team, Building Culture

TL;DR

Jamie Coakley from Electric and Jack Mayer from Slice discuss how their mission-driven companies are adapting to the remote work environment while prioritizing employee well-being.

Transcript

hello good morning everybody i am john holmstrom i lead talent for ggb capital and i'm thrilled to be here this morning uh with my esteemed guest jamie coakley who is the vp of people at electric and jack mayer who is the chief people officer at slice um jamie has a background in recruiting and helping early stage company teams grow and scale and h... Read More

Key Insights

• 🎟️ Mission-driven companies like Electric and Slice prioritize employee well-being and use their missions as guiding principles.
• 💦 Clear communication and empathy are essential for supporting employees in a remote work environment.
• 😤 Virtual team-building activities and rituals can help maintain a sense of community and connection.
• 😀 Flexibility in work schedules and policies can address the unique challenges employees face, such as childcare responsibilities.
• 💗 Regular check-ins and pulse surveys can help identify areas of concern and inform decision-making.
• 💦 Companies must adapt their onboarding and culture-building strategies to accommodate remote work.
• 🤔 Thinking globally and acting locally allows companies to address the specific needs of their global teams.

Questions & Answers

Q: How have Jamie and Jack addressed the challenges of onboarding new employees remotely?

Jamie has implemented check-ins and emotional conversations at the start of meetings to create a safe space for employees. Jack has used pulse surveys to gauge employee sentiment and created opportunities for virtual team-building activities.

Q: How have Jamie and Jack maintained their company culture in a remote work environment?

Jamie has encouraged managers to lead with empathy and has implemented rituals like team dinners and end-of-week wins to foster a sense of community. Jack has focused on clear communication and has allowed flexibility in work schedules to accommodate individual needs.

Q: How have Jamie and Jack addressed the concerns of stressed employees?

Jamie has implemented first Friday off for employees to rest and has introduced a no-meeting policy on Thursday mornings to allow for focused work. Jack has conducted pulse surveys to identify areas of concern and has provided additional support, such as parent stipends and online meditation sessions.

Q: How are Jamie and Jack managing the differences between their global teams?

Jamie and Jack both emphasize the importance of thinking globally and acting locally. They adjust their strategies based on the specific circumstances and needs of each location, such as providing company-issued laptops and equipment.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Jamie Coakley is the VP of People at Electric, a company that provides enterprise-grade IT support to small and medium businesses at a fraction of the cost.

• Jack Mayer is the Chief People Officer at Slice, a mission-driven company focused on helping local pizzerias thrive by providing leading digital tools.

• Both companies have experienced growth during the COVID-19 pandemic and have had to adapt their onboarding and culture-building strategies to support their distributed teams.