Companies everywhere have a proverbial water cooler. It’s the place to chat about sports or a new Dilbert-esque project handed down from above. Yawn. The special ones—high growth institutions who rely on innovative employees—build a roaring campfire.
The water cooler atmosphere is a lot like treading water. Low energy. Chilly. Maybe it breeds a little negativity. The campfire, on the other hand, is the place to come together. It’s where people sing songs, roast marshmallows and tell stories.
What’s your lore?
Every company has a story. How did the company start? What were the founders thinking? Did their funding come from investors, an acquisition or family assets? What is the underlying purpose?
Low energy and engagement = water cooler environment.
Rapidly growing banks are writing new stories every day. There are fresh achievements, challenges to beat, and more than a few near-misses. “Remember when the dog crashed through our window?”
“How about the big win we made in the early years competing against the Goliath bank?” The triumphs are exhilarating. This is part of your lore.
As the institution grows, the new people who come on board haven’t experienced the same history. Unless someone takes the time to tell them—and really draw them into the magic—they’ll never be as connected to the brand as the original team. A strong employer brand keeps moving the company forward. So the new people need to drink the kool-aid (the hot chocolate?) so everyone’s moving ahead together.
Do you have a place to gather?
Besides telling stories, you need a place for people to bond. They need to feel safe. That’s when they feel free to make up silly song lyrics and dream the dreams that lead to big ideas and innovations. This sense of place can be digital or physical.
Ideally, it’s both.
Consider changing up your break rooms or setting aside specific conference rooms to invite brainstorming and different, better thinking.
Create some online sharing tools, use your intranet and internal social media to foster branded, purposeful fun and work.
Rediscover Smore’s with your team. Here’s the recipe: 1 large marshmallow, 1 large graham cracker, 1 half Hershey bar. Heat the marshmallow over an open flame until it begins to brown and melt. Break the graham cracker in half. Sandwich the chocolate between the cracker halves with the hot melted marshmallow. Wait just a moment for it to cool, then dig in. Enjoy!
Everyone loves a camp fire
In the daily rush, never forget to carve out time for team building retreats, group picnics or planning sessions. Celebrate successes and spot the next thing to conquer together. Reinforce the love of the brand and why it matters. Use these times to build camaraderie and keep everyone focused on the goals.
I hope your bank—on the inside and outside—is like a crackling fire and the invitation of s’mores: impossible to resist.
This is an excerpt from Martha Bartlett Piland's book Beyond Sticky. Find it on Amazon and everywhere books are sold.
If you’re ready for help activating a unique, irresistible employer brand and culture for your bank, credit union or advisory firm, book a meeting with Martha Bartlett Piland, CFMP now.
Photo credits: campfire by Leon Contreras, woman at water cooler by Alyssa Jane and s'more by Regis Hari Bouchard—all on Unsplash.
