Equipping students with the requisite intellect and abilities to thrive in the computer programming industry, Treehouse is an esteemed educational institution. Nevertheless, like all prosperous ventures, Treehouse’s path to success was tumultuous. Speaking on Mixergy, CEO Ryan Carson confessed candidly to losing tens of thousands of dollars due to the mismanagement of a lone employee. The most regrettable outcome of this predicament was the time lost, in addition to forfeiting a competitive edge to other companies.
What led to this situation? Ryan was by no means an inexperienced manager who struggled with boosting the morale of his team and commending their achievements. Managing people was not a herculean task for him, although he confessed to being overly lenient towards his staff on occasions. However, he was unprepared for the difficulties of managing someone who was not physically present in the same location.
Integrating remote workers into client teams can be a challenging task, even for seasoned leaders. However, it doesn’t have to be this way. At Works, we have identified that the primary challenge in incorporating remote workers into client teams is the need to adjust clients’ perceptions. Like Ryan, many experienced executives make the mistake of assuming that remote employees are treated differently from other team members in terms of their work and management. As a result, we have adopted “integration” as our company ethos, viewing remote workers as equal to any other employee, albeit lacking a shared physical workspace.
Through perseverance, Ryan was able to comprehend this idea and assemble an extraordinary team that transcended geographic boundaries, causing Treehouse to become an outstanding example of a thriving globalized organization. As a result, they now employ over one hundred remote workers. Here are the top three strategies Ryan implemented to effectively manage his remote employees at Treehouse.
Unbelievable Benefits
Treehouse staff members have every reason to be proud of the exceptional benefits they receive. Ryan’s plan to offer benefits that cannot be found anywhere else, such as health insurance, a four-day workweek, and paid sabbaticals, is geared towards ensuring their long-term loyalty to the company. His financial sense is admirable, as he firmly believes that careful planning and budgeting make all of these benefits feasible.
Is it imperative to spend a substantial sum of money on bonuses to keep employees content? At Works, we don’t believe so. There are several ways to reward employees with generous compensation. Giving occasional gifts to employees has become a popular trend among several organizations. For example, some companies provide Amazon gift cards to enable their employees to buy books and music. The goal is to boost morale and make employees feel valued.
Workplace Integrity and Career Growth
Treehouse is transparent about its pledge to retain its employees for the long haul, conditional on their continued valuable contributions to the company’s success. Additionally, the organization offers a clear path for career advancement.
At any given time, employees can grasp their present standing within the organization, the potential possibilities that may emerge (such as quarterly salary hikes for those who meet their targets), and what the future holds for them in the company. It is crucial for individuals to know that they are making strides towards a goal and that their endeavours will be acknowledged and compensated, in order to stimulate them to perform at their best.
Recruiting In-person
Over the years, Treehouse and Ryan have perfected their recruitment process to discover the most fitting candidates who can assimilate into their company culture and adhere to their fundamental principles. They follow a three-stage approach that includes initial inquiries, interviews, and a final evaluation.
In an initial job interview, a recruiter may pose some key questions to gain a deeper comprehension of the applicant’s experience and fitness for the position. For instance, they might inquire about the applicant’s reasons for wanting to work at Treehouse, the most challenging hurdle they’ve faced and how they surmounted it, and a specific project they’re proud of and why. This grants the recruiter a more complete insight into the applicant’s personality and competencies in a work setting.
If the applicant passes the initial stage, they will be asked to engage in a sequence of interviews with members from different departments. The main aim of these interviews is to determine whether the candidate is a good ‘fit’ for the team. It is crucial to remember that technical skills can be learned, but cultural and personality traits are more challenging to alter.
Finally, the candidate will receive a project to work on as a test. Ideally, this project will hold importance for the company, but will not carry any potentially harmful repercussions if mishandled. It is crucial to mention that this is a paid position, at an hourly rate that is fair to the applicant. Thus, they will gain insight not only into what it’s like to work for the company but also to be a part of it.
Do You Believe This is a Beneficial Step for Your Company?
Randy and Treehouse have accomplished remarkable success by capitalising on the global talent at their disposal, aided by their well-planned solutions. Through meticulous planning and supervision, they have elevated their business to unprecedented heights of prosperity.
At Works, we comprehend that you may not have the means or the time to invest in the extensive and time-consuming training that Ryan provides at Treehouse. This is why we have committed ourselves to investigating and amassing the most pertinent information to assist you in finding the right individuals and leading you through the entire process – from recruitment to management and adjusting to a new culture. We recognise that no off-the-shelf solutions exist to tackle challenges, which is why we team up with you to create customised solutions that cater to the specific requirements of your business. We are eager to hear from you, as the world awaits.
