The New Small Business Revolution
Big or small, great things happen when business and individuals put the actions of The Company Cube® into practice. The latest experiences from around the world highlight the positive change taking place in work environments, colleagues and attitudes.
*These experiences are displayed in their native language. Google translation is available on each page.
Posted on in Build Relationships Every Day
(USA) – Usually I eat lunch at my desk or run errands. Then one day, I started having an ant problem. I tried to be extra careful and not get any food on the floor, but still they kept coming.
So, I decided to start eating in the office kitchen. I usually didn’t do that because I felt kid of silly eating there alone. I only work in the office 2 days a week, so I don’t have much opportunity to talk with my coworkers and my lunch hour varies, so I don’t make plans with other people.
The first day I sat there, three people stopped to talk to me! The next week, the same thing – people would come to wash their dishes or get their lunch and we had a chance to talk. After awhile I realized that even if I did feel silly this was a chance to build relationships with my coworkers. Now I know a little bit more about their lives and when we do see each other it is easier to talk.
Posted on in First to Help Others
Usually when I drop my kids off at daycare in the morning it is very hurried and I am often late for work. The teacher posts activities on the bulletin board of things that will be doing that week. She has a section called “Parent Involvement.” I read it, but don’t do anything, thinking I just have enough other things to do besides a ‘school activity’ for an infant and toddler.
One day after making it to work and seeing the company cube sitting on my desk, I thought about her. She is really making an effort at her job, and even though we don’t share an ‘office’, in a way, she is part of my workday. What could I do to help her?
I thought about the Winter Olympics coming up, so next time I saw her asked if she had anything planned for the kids. She didn’t, but asked if I had any ideas. I found some and emailed them to her. I didn’t hear anything, but one day my daughter came home with one of the crafts I suggested.
She helped me too – as that particular craft was a lot of preparation!
Posted on in Share Expertise, Time, Yourself
(USA) Today a friend called me while I was at work for help with a project that was related to my professional expertise. I didn’t think the question would take very long, but we ended up on the phone for over an hour. After I hung up I was kind of annoyed because my work (that my company was being paid for) was going very slow that day and this interruption meant I would have to stay late or not finish on time. I also realized that my tone of voice was not very patient with my friend towards the end of the conversation.
I thought about The Company Cube and also the owner of my company who is involved in the EoC. What should I do? I felt as if I needed to do something concrete for this person. “Share your time, expertise, and yourself” came into my head. I dediced to call my friend back and go through a concrete example of one of my work projects that might be helpful for the question.
She was very appreciative and our second phone call was shorter and seemed to help more. I also realized that sometimes I call her when I am in the office for professional expertise, while she is at work. So maybe I didn’t get everything done today, but we both learned something and kept our relationship strong for the next phone call!
Posted on in Support with Actions, Not Just Words
(Steven Malimbwi – Tanzania) – I had a customer who came to order an e-ticket for his flight. I booked the flight and held the booking for two weeks. After the booking had expired, the customer came back needing his ticket…but the booking had expired. I told this to the customer, but he was very angry and left.
Then I remembered the cube I rolled that day, “Support with actions.” So I decided to make another booking. I found a KLM flight with and called the customer to offer him the cheapest fare. He knew that the KLM ticket was a very high price. He was very happy and told me that he would come back to pay the ticket.
