Nowadays, it seems like everyone is talking about startup culture. The massive amount of false information out there has led people to believe that startups are all about unlimited paid time off and being able to work whenever you want, something that would never be possible in a corporation. But people are allowed to dream, and achieve those dreams. So let's get into startup culture and tech.
A startup is a small business founded by entrepreneurs who introduce new products into the market. They have restricted resources and financial support, so they usually rely on determination and diligence to get results. To put it simply, startup culture refers to the way team members work together and establish objectives according to shared values. When you're thinking about what kind of environment you want for your employees, keep in mind that creativity flourishes best when people feel comfortable expressing themselves without pressure.
It's crucial to understand your values and what you want to achieve. These values will be your principles for hiring and firing people. Make sure these values resonate with you on a personal level, and don't just copy someone else's values. Remember, these are YOUR values, not your company's Values. If they aren't authentic to you, then your employees will pick up on it and won't stick to them because they'll be able to tell that you don't really care about them.
After all, you should follow the values and rules you set to be a good role model for those whom you hire. Furthermore, it's critical that you give feedback on a regular basis. Let your employees know their strengths as well as areas in which they can improve, but always emphasize wanting them to do better instead of putting them down at every mistake.
Adhere to the values and goals you set, return to them frequently to ensure they are still effective and everyone is following them. Checking in regularly will also allow you to create a safe space, as intended.
Working provides a sense of purpose, being part of something larger than oneself. With fewer workers, management is able to see the value in each employee and acknowledge their individual efforts. The work environment tends to be more relaxed since there are less people adhering to the same set goals and values. There's also room for creativity as some things haven't been tried before - thus giving employees a chance to test new ideas with low pressure or judgement.
If you prefer to work more independently and be Autonomy is something you desire, working for a start-up might offer that opportunity since there are usually only a small group of people. You will likely have more responsibilities than if you worked under someone else And because of that, decisions are made quickly without bureaucratic protocols holding progress back.. If taking on new responsibility sounds scary but exciting, many times learning through experiences in the field can happen organically by simply doing your job well. You'll also gain knowledge about other parts of the company which can be helpful down the line when trying to move up within the organization.
Startups are, by their very definition, a risk. With no guaranteed growth or timeline visible from the outset, it can be difficult to justify the investment of time and energy into something that may not come to fruition. This is especially true when working on a startup consumes so much time that work begins to seep into weekends and holidays with no endgame in sight. The main downside to working in a startup is the low pay and lack of benefits. However, the relaxed atmosphere can be positive for team morale. On the flip side, this can lead to disorganization as some people may not know how to take charge of a situation while others would prefer not to be told what to do.
At the end of the day, it comes down to whether or not the cons outweigh the pros for you. If you're interested in working in a startup, it never hurts to try - if things don't work out, you can always try again later on. After all, there's no substitute for experience!
