Position: Creative Lead
Date commenced: 15 July 2019
I don’t know exactly what makes a great workplace culture. But, much like the United States Supreme Court’s definition of hardcore pornography, I know it when I see it – and I’ve seen it every day in the five years I’ve been at The Content Division.
The Content Division is not like a family, and thank Christ for that. Instead, we’re a team. The Best Team, even. We bring a complimentary mix of skills and perspectives to the table; we hold ourselves accountable; we celebrate each other’s successes; and we pick each other up when we fall. And unlike many businesses that claim to be a family – and, for that matter, unlike many families – we respect each other’s time and each other’s boundaries.
Britt and Kurt make no secret of the fact that the right culture fit is make-or-break when they’re bringing on new team members, and it shows in the group of people they’ve assembled. There’s been shockingly little staff turnover since I got here in 2019. We tend to add, rather than replace, and I think that’s because we all realise what a sweet deal we’ve got going here.
Take our annual team offsites. These started as a few hours in an office other than our own, and have evolved into a couple of days spent ‘round the campfire, coming up with ideas to improve the business and solving murders.
Then there’s our annual Steps Challenge, which is as fiercely contested as our monthly Walking Clubs are friendly. These casual ‘wellness initiatives’ have been important for my physical and mental health.
Our end-of-year celebrations are the stuff of legend, and our group chat should come with a subscription fee.
But as good as the banter is, we’re here to do the work. The Right Work. Britt and Kurt tend to have a good sense of where people’s strengths lie and the type of work they’ll excel at. That’s probably because they’ve spent plenty of time in the content mines themselves, and they understand the nuances of what all of us do.
It doesn’t mean you’re going to love every task you’re assigned. But it does mean you never feel like a square peg shoved into a round hole, and the client always gets the best work possible from the right people for the job.
Our last value, From Anywhere, doesn’t necessarily refer to our geographic location, although being able to work from home is nice. To me, it’s more about the fact that everybody’s voice is heard, and a good idea is recognised as a good idea, whether it comes from someone in their first year in the workforce or an old dog like me. Our weekly jam sessions give everyone in the business a chance to workshop ideas and ask for help with any projects they’re working on, and they’re invaluable.
The Best Team. The Right Work. From Anywhere. That’s the TCD way – and that’s what makes this the best culture I’ve ever been a part of.
