Jennifer Terrell Explains the Startup Culture and Its Effects

The popular perception of startup culture includes such perks as free food, game tables, and being able to bring a pet to work. People who work in traditional industries are often mystified by startup culture. They are unaware that the differences between a startup and a traditional workplace go far beyond the perks.

Falmouth employees may be interested in finding jobs in startup companies. Jennifer Terrell, the former vice president of local sales at LivingSocial, shares insights on what it really means to be a startup company and offers tips for new companies to succeed in today’s competitive marketplace in Massachusetts.

Nationwide Startup Trends

Recently, Boston received the highest ranking among 25 top startup cities. Massachusetts is a fertile incubator for startup companies due to its highly educated workforce and innovative ideas. Other cities like Austin, New York City, and San Francisco continue to support a vibrant startup culture.

Throwing Out the Rulebook

Startup companies are not bound by the rigid demands of an org chart and a chain of command. These companies tend to develop organically over time, and lower-level employees have a far better chance of rising through the ranks.

The goal of a startup company is to create business opportunities in a rapid and creative fashion. The most agile and capable employees will rise to the top, creating great opportunities for advancement.

At the same time, employees who are accustomed to the more rigid demands of a traditional workplace may not thrive in a startup environment. They may have fixed expectations of what their job should entail, and they may not be willing to take the kind of risks that will allow them to find success.

Appreciating Individual Contributions

In startup culture, the individual is more important than the team. Acknowledging each employee’s individual contributions goes a long way toward creating goodwill. Successful startups have programs in place to recognize their best employees. This can also create an atmosphere of healthy competition within the workplace as various employees vie to be noticed by upper management.

Communication

At a startup company, there are no barriers between the founders and the rank and file. The average employee enjoys greater access to his or her boss, enabling them to share ideas and to interact on a personal level. This empowers startup employees to suggest changes that may benefit the office as a whole.

Communication between departments is also enhanced. Various parts of the company are not working in their own boxes, unaware of what other departments are doing. This can cause some overlap of roles, which can lead to trouble down the road. Overall, this feature of startup companies is a benefit to everyone.

Selective Hiring

Startup companies don’t always hire the most competent employees on paper. They focus on whether the new hire will fit into the company culture. This may cause some frustration on the part of rejected job applicants, but the careful nurturing of company culture is one of the most important aspects of the startup workplace.

Creating an Atmosphere of Compassion

Another key feature of startup companies is the ability to shape company culture based on the needs of employees. Startup companies have the unique opportunity to center their workplace around caring for the individual employee. Depending on the founders’ priorities, flex time and parental leave can be more generous than with other companies.

With Great Risk Comes Great Reward

Three out of every four startup companies will fail. This represents a major risk on the part of the owners, principals, and employees. Many employees are willing to trade job security for the opportunity to get in on the ground floor in a new company where advancement opportunities may be limitless.

Exciting Opportunities

Jennifer Terrell encourages Falmouth employees to take the plunge and accept jobs with startup companies if they believe they will enjoy the unique culture and rigorous pace. They will find that their independence and personal goals will be more in line with their job responsibilities. While working for a startup can be a risky proposition, the personal development opportunities go above and beyond those that can be found in a traditional workplace.