It is a common perception company culture; images of trendy startups with perks like swag, free meals and naps often come to mind—a scene reminiscent of the early days of Google. However, for us in The Veep Marketthe value of “giving generously” was not originally formally part of our core ethos. It wasn't until a few years into our growth journey that we realized something essential was missing.

Here's how we found this realization: employment experiences. We brought several individuals on board; it quickly became apparent that their inclination towards GENEROSITY – whether with their time, knowledge or support of colleagues and customers – fell short of our expectations. There was an ongoing conversation and we kept thinking, “shouldn't this be the standard for how people work with each other?” There was no denying that their values ​​differed greatly from the company's. That didn't make them bad people, but they weren't a good fit for the company culture. That's when it hit us: we needed to make “giving generously” a core value officially. It is now interwoven throughout our ecosystem.

One of my favorite interview questions is, “What's the last nice thing someone did for you—and in turn, what's the last nice thing you did to brighten someone else's day?” ” Some things people have said that made my heart grow three sizes:

• They made homemade soup for their sick neighbor.
• They brought their roommate a lunch that they had forgotten at home.
• They spent time with their elderly grandparents cleaning their house.
• Donating time to the local shelter.

For me, it's not about grand gestures. It's about the little details, the accumulation of many small “cares” that add up to an embodiment of kindness and giving it freely. Like anniversaries, birthdays and holidays, they come a few times a year – but wouldn't you feel so special if every day was like your birthday? A lot of companies we talk to say I'd like to do that, but I don't have the budget for it. I'll tell you a secret: it's not about the money.

When we didn't have a budget, we did things like:

• Employee Appreciation Day smiley balloons on everyone's chair as a surprise when they walk in.
• Post the notes on their computers.
• Take your birthday off with paid vacation.
• Bike tours around the complex.
• Pumpkin painting.
• Halloween Contest.
• Valentine's Day cards as a team for people who lived in the senior center.

Here's the beauty of it: many times, it's the free stuff or the minimal expense that people end up appreciating the most, finding deeper connections with, and building memories. There's a big misconception about saving to do one or two big things to show your team you love them, but think about all the time in between, months on end, without telling them you care. Wouldn't you tell your children you love them every day?

Now, things are unlike before pandemic. We had a physical office, so the sky was the limit. Once the pandemic happened, it was a whole new evolution, and learning how to build a team, create happiness and give generously to them without being able to physically give them something. He also introduced a new obstacle to measuring happiness through a computer screen. It's a lot easier when you can read body language in person, see if they're more relaxed during the day, etc., but when we started hiring across the country, it made it a challenge. The pandemic taught us a lot about GENEROSITY and gratitude. As much as it was one of my most challenging periods as a leader, it was also one that taught me the most. I have seen the amazing character of people and their mental strength. Their ability to bond together to find solutions to difficult problems. Their kindness when there are difficult conversations. Their giving spirit when organizations barely had enough for themselves but still continued to support others.

Even when we weren't sure what was going to happen, we promised to keep giving generously, because kindness always wins. Someone is always worse off, struggling more and needing something you can take for granted every day. Giving generously helps us stay humble and focus on the needs of others above our own. It reminds us that we are lucky.

• How it looks now
  • Flexible hours.
  • 45 days off per year.
  • Sabbatical and a longevity bonus.
  • Half day Fridays.
  • Cookies in the mail for moments in the spotlight.
  • A 401k match.
  • Death.
  • Personal time.
  • Happy hours on Fridays.
  • Voluntary paid leave.
  • Medical, dental, eye.
  • Life insurance.
  • Health advocate services.
  • Pay for work from home.
  • Paid trainings and certifications.
  • Meditating as a team before starting the day.

It's not always about the gifts – it's also about understanding where someone is in life. Your team shows up to help each other and the company, but it's not the driving factor in their lives. When you see someone struggling, it's more impactful to say, “Hey, how can I help you? You seem like a lot of work. It's just work. We're not heart surgeons. Please go offline and take care of XYZ.” We've had people wanting to come the day after a family member has died, work from their family holiday or take appointments from a hospital. Respect and protect your team's time, sanity and boundaries. Give generously to them, and they give generously to your company, your team, and your customers. Be their advocate even when they think work is more important.

Have you thought about what your team needs to live a generous life? What makes them feel appreciated? How can your company build deeper relationships and help them live their best lives? Think about the times in your life when you felt most cared for, supported, and ultimately most valued. Because no one ever says, “I want to work somewhere where I don't feel appreciated.” Then, take it a step further and ask your team. Start a dialogue and you'll be surprised how creative and thoughtful the ideas will be. Keep your focus on generous giving and you can't go wrong.