I’ve had a lot of jobs (receptionist, day care worker, world famous super model) and I’ve worked for companies of all sizes – from those big enough to fill a skyscraper to those small enough to nearly fit inside the pocket of a business suit. Like anything, working for either size company has its positives and negatives, but in my experience, small companies win hands down. I have a bumper sticker on my non-company car that says, "My small company can beat up your large one."
It seems that small companies involve far less politics, far less gossip, and many more bottles of wine in the conference room. When it comes down to it, they are just more fun, more intimate, and more rewarding to work for - but they do have an Achilles Heel: when someone quits a small company, a large percentage of the work force is lost.
These things are inevitable. People get new jobs, people retire, people move to other parts of the country, and people find Publisher’s Clearing House knocking on their door. Change is often the only constant, and being prepared for it can mean the difference between sinking when someone quits or paddling on with one less oar.
Have a Co-Pilot: In many small companies, each individual plays a very specified role. There may be one programmer, one designer, one writer, and one manager. One is the magic number. Thus, when one person quits, their job may also clean out its desk and leave as well. Having a cross-trained co-pilot can make all the difference.
Cross training may sound like something reserved for large companies or tennis shoes, but doing it on a smaller scale for small companies is necessary. This doesn’t mean someone needs to know everything about another person’s job, but knowing enough to cover the bases until a replacement can be found will be highly helpful and keep the company continuing in smooth flight.
Article comments