Making life better in disadvantaged communities - our thoughts on everything - from Spirit Lake Consulting, Inc.
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Erich and I were talking about the different types of people who work for small companies and for other organizations, like schools, government or large companies. We pretty much agreed that the same person could be very successful working for one kind of institution but not in another. We didn't really get so far as analyzing why, though. Some of the articles I read, I thought were WAY off-base, but then, I thought maybe those differences were important to that person. For example, it really bugged one person that he had to order his own office supplies and make his own copies. On the other hand, the reason I think I could never go back to working for a large institution is that I just don't do mornings. I start work about 9 a.m. and I wake up around 8:52, walk over to my desk with a cup of coffee my husband brings me to wake me up and start work. The thought of having to get up at 6 a.m. just makes my physically ill.
Those of you who have worked for both types, are there any differences that really bothered you about one type of place or the other?
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I work for a big company now. I used to work for a small company. I don't know that there is so much difference if you are just at the worker level like me. I used to think small companies could be counted on less to keep your job because bigger companies had more money. Now big companies do lay-offs so that don't matter much. Big companies might have some leave you can get if you have a disabled person in your family but if they don't then that is just too bad and if your mom or someone gets sick tough luck. Smal companies don't always have so many days off but if you did need time offf they are more likely to listen to you and just let you have it if you need it. So the main difference I found is that small companies are not so bound on rules.
I have actually had to start thinking about this lately, since I am in the job search transition. I currently am employed for a small business, but in college I used to work for my university, a larger organization. I actually do prefer the small business sector - I am not exactly a morning person either and I don't at all mind ordering my own supplies and taking on various types of tasks. In fact, I think it helps to give me a more diverse work experience - for example, I am a Research Associate, but I used to take care of managing our office, timesheets, administrative work, etc. I really liked it - nothing was ever ordinary or boring!! I agree with Joe - small businesses are also more likely to be understanding about emergencies that come up, especially since they know your work a lot better than if you were just a number in their large company.
The only thing I miss about working for a large company is meeting tons of people. I had a whole group of friends at the school I worked for and now that I live in a new state, I would like to be able to meet new people through a job. Also the benefits ... esp with the cost of health insurance these days!
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Yes, that may be true, speaking from an employee perspective. I have found that working for a smaller company less than 10 employees versus one with over 100 that you are able to work one on one more closely with those who keep you employed. Also, it makes a difference if you work in a smaller community. Because I have found that if you have a good reputation and work history work is not hard to find. Many times it will find you.
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Another major difference I think, and Jessica touched on it, is that you have to be able to do more multi-talented in a small business. You can be brilliant at, say, budgets and schedules, and totally clueless about everything else, and you can be successful in a large company. In a small company, everyone has to perform several different jobs. You might need to be good at budgets, schedules, arranging travel, editing, writing and several other tasks, because there is not going to be any one restricted area that offers enough work for a full-time job.
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What I like about being a part owner in a small company is the ability to make Policy and Procedures changes instantaneously. My experience in working for larger organizations was any changes to Policy and Procedures had to go through several layers of bureaucracy, which took days, weeks, and sometimes months. Therefore, when a policy and/or procedure become outdated, detrimental, hurtful, or unsafe it remains in place for a long period time before it was removed. This often created personnel problems rather then solving them. Small businesses, on the other hand, can literally change policy and/or procedure overnight when it becomes outdated. This capability, when used wisely, is a tremendous morale booster for the employees and administration.
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Working for a smaller company can also have many personal benefits, including more financial flexibility to reward employee's (when the budget allows), and the ability to build more personable relations, some that can last a lifetime. Try doing this in a larger company. Other than company functions you very seldom see you co-workers, unless you are lucky enough to work for a Fortune 500 company where most work environments are relaxed and offer many benefits, i.e,. fitness center, dining facility, etc. are available on site.
Last edited by Willie (2007-05-22 00:18:59)
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I am definitely leaning towards the small business field as being the better choice. As I type, I am sitting in the living room at my friend's house, listening to them conduct a meeting about a small company they are running. They are all entrepreneurs, all very motivated. I think that in small businesses, there has to be some sort of discipline instilled in a person and the personal drive to succeed, since you are in charge of many tasks and usually carry a lot of responsibility, because there are fewer employees. I guess, then, it all depends on the individual personality ...
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As a college student I find working for a small company offers more flexibility that is necessary for me to succeed in my studies. One reason in particular I wanted to work for a small company was because they train you under various applications and allow you to experience situations that a larger company would never allow because there is such a high ladder of command. To me learning about business and entreprenuership through a small company will be more beneficial to my future whether it be working for another small company in my field or beginning a business of my own.
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This may not matter much to anyone else, but I think it's the little things.
I can come to work wearing shorts, tattoos exposed, hair orange and purple, with a pink fishnet shirt over a turquoise shirt. AnnMaria says, "I don't care what you wear, as long as you're dressed!" Because she knows I'm smart and can do what needs to be done. It just doesn't matter when you sit at a desk to do your work.
Big companies have all sorts of little "rules". Just like some people have little rules. AnnMaria and I were talking about this the other day - how she used to know people who had rules like, "You can't eat anything you bought at the grocery store until EVERYTHING is put away." Why? Why does it matter? That has no impact on the universe, but when you can't do something that you want to do for no reason, that's kind of annoying. Sure, one or two things like that won't bother you too much, but I think when you have tons of those little rules for no reason it can just bring people down.
I've also found working for a small business makes it easier to do things when you want to do them. I just finished some data entry and sent it to AnnMaria about half an hour ago. At 1:30am. You can't usually do your work at midnight for a big corporation. But is the work any less done? No, and I can sleep in tomorrow. AnnMaria has her data, so she's happy, and I don't have to see the morning, so I'm happy. Now I'll work harder for AnnMaria. Everyone wins!
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I have friends who work for large companies and it feels like most of their day is taken up by gossiping about their colleagues and engaging in office drama than actually working. I like that I can sit at my computer and not have to deal with any of that - I get so much more done!
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