First, let me start with a disclaimer. We don’t have all the answers.

In fact, we don’t even know what some of the questions are at this moment in time. Nothing that SalesFix is doing right now is ground-breaking; we are not being “disruptive” (which is the buzzword for businesses this year) and we are not trying to create a new trend. However, that doesn’t make what we have and what we do any less interesting, exciting and something to be proud of. Because, although what we have and what we continue to foster within our business is not new, it is also not common enough either.

Here is our number 1 belief:
Happy employees = a dedicated team = satisfied customers = successful business

Fostering a positive culture in the workplace has improved our results exponentially. Just as important is the ability to be human and take ownership of our environment. SalesFix actively promotes a workplace culture of respect and equality so every team member is confident in their value and contribution. Staff appreciation is high, days off are low, team participation and collaboration comes easier, and the business is a happier place to be which reflects in our services and results.

The People

Being task-focused is important but it can be easy to forget that it’s the people that are driving the business and the human element is just as crucial. The SalesFix team brings their own unique set of skills and experience. We manage expectations before a person comes onboard and continue with an agreement about how the team will collectively and individually contribute. This opens the door to a transparent and honest team environment. Our goal is to build an organisation of smart, ambitious individuals – committed to our team and customers’ success with a laser focus on winning, while still able to balance a respectful, healthy work environment and lifestyle.

The Right Culture

It’s not just about having a table-tennis table or beer-o’clock Fridays (although we have that too). Having the right culture means you can trust that every decision made in the company is made in the best interest of the organisation.

Here just a few things that are important to us:

• Flexible workplace – Our start times and finish times are dependent on our customers; we don’t have a time clock. Commitment to the business is essential, however having a flexible work environment allows staff to not feel they are being torn in different directions eg work/home/children’s events/social etc. Work from home, office or customer site. Every day will be dependent on what you need to get done

• Feedback – Everyone has a say, and there are heaps of opportunities to be heard. Annual surveys just don’t cut it when you are looking to be a forward-thinking, proactive workplace

• Unnecessary personnel policies – Sure, we have the essential compliance policies to ensure fairness, diversity, workplace health & safety are of paramount importance. But we don’t feel we need to document basic manners, trust, respect and harmony. Either you live and breathe our values, or you work somewhere else.

• Recruiting – Having the right people is the foundation for our success. Recruitment consists of a 3 step process. Just as important as having the right skills with the right experience; when we look at hiring new people, we ensure that they have the same values.

• No performance reviews – Goals and success points are necessary for individuals as well as the business; judgement meetings with a KPI score are not. Having conversations on a regular basis, talking through the challenges and resetting goals are proactive measures to keep everyone on track and loving what they do.

• Reasonable, human dress code – Dress for your day, if you are customer facing on a particular day, then they will set the standard. If not, then pyjamas and tracky daks are not unheard of (another benefit of working from home).

• All Wins are “shared wins” – Great teams earn great rewards. A bonus incentive scheme is measured across business success and individual contribution to team success! (Last year the whole team enjoyed a week in San Francisco for Dreamforce 15, the largest Salesforce conference in the world; this year we are off to Cambodia as a volunteer team to Volunteer Building Cambodia, an exceptional organisation that builds wells, toilets and safe housing in some of the more rural areas.
• Naked Consulting – Our customers can and often do become an extended arm of our business. That’s because we provide open and honest insights to their business, we challenge the status quo and we walk away if we don’t believe we are the solution. The difference between consulting and selling…..

Having said all that, it sounds like a perfect workplace doesn’t it? Well, let’s not be too smug. We absolutely get it wrong sometimes! We get busy and miss some of the signs until it is almost too late. We are crushed if someone leaves us because they feel they will be happier elsewhere.

It happens. And we continue to work to improve our foresight, our communication tools and vision.