Last week we attended the InnovateWork Toronto Summit and had a chance to listen to some great speakers with varying backgrounds. While everyone had their own unique experiences to draw upon, there was a noticeable common element present … creating an elevated employee experience.
We couldn’t help but notice, that in a room full of HR people, the reactions ranged from “we need to do something like this” to “we need to do more” when the speakers discussed all the ways to create a better workplace atmosphere. A better workplace atmosphere in turn creates a better employee experience by building a workplace community as opposed to simply building a team.
What is the difference between a community and a team in the workplace?
A team is a group of people that come together to achieve a common goal. A community, is a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing interests and common goals. You can quickly see why the latter can be much more powerful.
Think of it this way … when people apply for a job, they're applying for a life at a specific company, however long that ‘life’ may be. For example, an accountant at a large accounting firm like KPMG likely doesn't have the same employee experience, work/life balance and sense of community as an accountant at a company like Google.
Whether or not your company is the next Google, having some kind of corporate health and wellness program is key to keeping your employees healthy, happy, productive and feeling like they are truly part of a workplace community.
