I N T E R N A L C U LT U R E D E V E L O P M E N T

By Fede Ponce

T h i s i s p o s i t i v e c u l t u r e .

Talented individuals are at the core of a studio’s longevity, profitability,

chemistry and overall personal and financial well being.. A supportive and inspiring environment will push people to connect at their very best mental

states.

Having explored multiple culture shifts inherited from the tech industry to the arts there is no question that any studio that can offer a healthy, safe and creative space for its talent will be competitive whilst generating a endless list of tangible benefits. What best way to attract talent than creating the proper space for creativity.

Data driven, quantitative and qualitative research has produced cultural behaviours that can have a massive positive impact on the quality of life of a company’s employees and in turn a company’s bottom line.

THIS IS WHAT THEY ALL HAD IN COMMON

In order to create a culture of creative development within a corporate structure a surveyof more than 35 creative companies across 3 separate industries was

held to help identify the major issues that creatives care about.

1. Meaningful Work

2. Ownership Of The Work

It’s not about pixels, it’s about process and the effect on one’s personal sense of growth while working on a project.

Being proud not just at the final product, but being proud about exceeding one’s own expectations and limitations.

3. Openness In Communication

Brutal constructive honesty as they call it, is the only way to destroy the ego in favour of identifying the blind spots in the creative process - Bridgewater and Pixar are the best examples.

4. Camaraderie In The Workplace

5. Quality of the work

Providing a space where meaningful friendships can flourish is essential as it reduces stress and provides a framework for alleviating communication breakdowns.

Heads of department should always push for improvement, nothing stalls the creative mind like mindless repetitive work.

6. Quantity of the work

In order for creatives to be in an optimal state of flow - the work has to be challenging enough so that it can be solved with effort, but not complex enough that it is impossible, neither should it be easy enough so that it becomes mechanical.

7. Quality of Communications

8. Competitive and Consistent compensation

High standards for mutual respect are essential. No superior should ever engage in diminishing, insulting or toxically abusing a situation to impose, change or correct a situation. Superiors lead by example and in the worst and most stressful times they most maintain a respectful and understanding channel of communication with their teammates.

It’s not just about paying fair market rates but about recognizing good work. Bonuses, paid extra days off etc.. Get creative and compensate your workers in the ways they need it!

9. Hours of work

Creatives don't mind the grind, they don't mind putting in the hours...as long as those hours are meaningful and not an issue of mismanagement. Too many burned hours of mistakes and creatives will be burned out.

10. Flexibility for creative developmentEveryone has a double life but what better way to integrate it into the creative culture than to invite employees to share it in a public space in the company.

11. PollutionIn order to enhance and foster: Camaraderie, Quality of Communication, Sense of community and Quality of life at work here are a few elements proven to work:

Dining Table

Stocked Kitchen

The Ping Pong Advantage

Showcase Space

Dogs

Sponsored Company Outings

Sports Leagues

Consistency of pay

Freelancer intro packet

Internal reviews page Hours of work

Client management from producers

Showcase Space

Pollution

ELEMENTS

A creative space that can offer a dedicated, pleasant place for gathering and sharing food together is proven to alleviate tensions between teams. Managers, personal assistants, Jr. editors etc.. can chat and get to know each other personally. Discussions over solutions to projects and more casual conversations can help in the creative process, as well as fostering a team building environment.

Dining Table

Research has shown that a combination of healthy snacks and treats help maintain stable levels of glucose. In human terms, a tray of fresh baked goods on Fridays, every time a project finishes properly or welcoming everyone on Mondays has a very positive effect on overall morale. A working kitchen is phenomenal tool to boost happiness and maintain proper glucose levels throughout the day. Studies show that most stressful situations and breakdowns in communication happen when glucose levels drop.

Stocked Kitchen

A ping pong table is a healthy way of getting people to relax, get to know each other and unwind. Small internal tournaments encourage a light atmosphere and a sense of play. It is important to offer breaks and spaces that allow people to relax away from screens and have a pleasurable amount of physical activity. Several studies show that sitting for more than 4 hours a day can induce depression, serious physical injury, back problems and repetitive muscular tissue damage.

The Ping Pong Advantage

A projector, a screen or a space that is solely dedicated to the showcase of inspirational spots or artwork created and celebrated by the company is a must. A member of the team could have a side t shirt business or art work they might want displayed, a digital gallery is a phenomenal way to encourage team members to integrate and align their other life pursuits into the company.

Showcase Space

Dogs

Museums, Exhibitions, concerts, trips and team building outings are not a thing of the 90’s. Science tells us that companies that engage in these activities see 35% less turnover.

Sponsored Company Outings

This is almost a no brainer. A space that is pet friendly and that allows for well behaved pets to become part of the team has been proven to reduce stress. It allows us to tap into a richer pool of talent (usually more mature and established freelancers)Dogs Make Going to Work More Fun : Discovery NewsDogs in the Workplace

Sports Leagues

This is an area that has great potential, anything from paintball games, to organized soccer, volleyball, bowling leagues etc are a great chance for uniform design, team building and encouraging good health. Another benefit of a sports league is that it offers neutral ground allowing team members to polish communication skills and hash out any difficulties they might face in the day to day grind. It has been shown that a company leading the way in organizing sports benefits from attracting a vast database of contractors. It also offers a great way to consolidate the community while creating alliances with software sponsors, local businesses resulting in positive brand recognition and a measureable ROI.

Ideally when booking a contractor, a digital packet containing, NDA’s, contracts, code of conduct, pipeline workbook, and any other materials could be sent 3-4 days in advance of a booking in order to assimilate talent right away. Studies show that it can take up to 2 weeks to assimilate new talent.

Hours of work

A solid financial strategy is necessary to implement bi-weekly pay schedule. A company does not become outstanding by doing standard things.

Consistency of pay

A standard 8 hour day. 10am-6pm. Is just that, standard and it is proven that it lends itself to waste. Shorter days are more productive but several combinations have worked for different companies. A 9 hour day mon-thursday and a 4 hour day friday is an example of a flex schedule. See what flex schedule works best for your company.

Get Creative with time

The best PR is just to be the best. Offering a platform where workers can leave anonymous comments and ratings about the environment can shed a light on many ways to improve the company. It helps a company keep tabs on it’s quality word about excellence spreads like wildfire.

Internal reviews page

Client management

One of the key elements in developing a healthy environment and leading a creative team is proper client management as well as talent management. Producers are directly responsible for communication breakdown, quality of communication, organization and ensuring a proper bi directional pipeline between the client and the artists. A producer that finds a balance between delivering within expectations and achieving reasonable goals given enough time and budget will ensure the wellbeing of a project and project members. It is essential to find professional producers with enough experience and the willingness to learn about the processes they are involved with.

The client is not always right.

Refers specifically to environmental variables that distract the environment and hinder productivity. Noise pollution in open spaces can be mitigated with ambient music, gentle phone ringtones and other methods that allow the reduction of stress. Healthy snacks and proper seating arrangements will help to create a more streamlined environment. Also a small meditation/nap (quiet room)usable for 10-15 minutes a day will prove a great retreat and a refreshing experience. This is much healthier than a cigarette break.

Pollution

The Creative Director as well as producers are directly in charge of offering their teams the means to solve issues, resolve problems in an effective, courteous and pleasant manner. Day to day communication upkeep is essential in maintaining a high level of respect, high morals as well as problem solving abilities. Research shows that companies that invest more in HR don’t necessarily see returns on conflict resolution.

Quality of Communication between colleagues and managers

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Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results

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Creativity, Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration Hardcover – April 8, 2014 by Ed Catmull (Author), Amy Wallace

The Pixar Touch: The Making of a Company Paperback – May 5, 2009 by David A. Price

Disney U: How Disney University Develops the World's Most Engaged, Loyal, and Customer-Centric Employees Hardcover – March 26, 2013 by Doug Lipp

Happiness Advantage: The Seven Principles That Fuel Success and Performance at Work Paperback – September 1, 2011 by Shawn Achor

The Art of the Start 2.0: The Time-Tested, Battle-Hardened Guide for Anyone Starting Anything Hardcover – March 3, 2015 by Guy Kawasaki

The Lean Startup: How Today's Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses Hardcover – September 13, 2011 by Eric Ries

Outliers: The Story of Success Paperback – June 7, 2011 by Malcolm Gladwell

The Brain That Changes Itself: Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of Brain Science Paperback – December 18, 2007 by Norman Doidge

Journal of Applied Psychology (Vol. 85, No. 5, pp. 779-783, 2000).

Psychological Science (Vol. 13, No.5, Sept. 2002).

SOURCES