By Travis Peterson
At Gallup, we take pride in our unique culture. Born of a simple but profound idea from the father of CliftonStrengths , Don Clifton, that we should focus on what is right with people other than what wrong with them, Gallup knows the kind of people it wants inside its walls. It is having this strength-focused, excellence-driven culture that makes being a part of Gallup so unique. While the culture is woven into the DNA of every department inside of Gallup, for now, I will try to show what that looks like in Gallup Technology.
First off, I'm a 'Context' guy (my #2 overall strength), so here is my quick backstory. I work as a Quality Assurance Coordinator, more simply known as a 'QA', inside of a team inside of another team in the Gallup Technology department. My degree is in Psychology, with a minor in business administration. So how in the world did I end up working alongside some of the best software programmers in the business without having a background in technology? My twin brother, who also works at Gallup, told me about a job opening. Even though it might be easy to say that Trevor was a successful QA, so why not bring on his taller and more handsome genetic clone? (Unfortunately for me, Gallup does not work like that.) You must earn your spot in "the tribe", as our CEO Jim Clifton calls us associates, and gratefully I made it through the various talent assessments and interviews we use for ensuring a perfect fit for the company. Lucky for me, Gallup's culture and confidence in hiring talent first got me in the door, but it was up to me to make the most out of the chance I had been given.
In the technology department, there is a culture of excellence and accountability. Not only because that is the standard set across the company, but also because in our minds there is no other choice but to be excellent. Gallup is known for its polling and consulting, but in our department, we think of Gallup as a technology company. The sites and tools we build support all the other things people know us for, and if we have a bad day and a tool or a site does not work, that hurts the brand and products we pride ourselves in having built. Gallup cannot sell itself to potential clients as a worldwide leader in consulting and data if the technology is not there to support it. That means that every day, our project administrators are gathering requirements from stakeholders and prioritizing it properly. The programmers are meeting to understand what needs to be done and then do what they do best: program. Then the QAs like myself are trusted to give the Commodus-like thumbs up or thumbs down to whatever is going to be released to our live environments every two weeks.
That may sound intimidating, like you are personally under constant pressure to churn out these world class releases to our sites, but that is not the whole truth. One of my colleagues put it best when referring to why he appreciates working at Gallup: they treat you like an adult. That means we all have a responsibility to our team to do our work and do it well, but that we are in no means chained to our desks from 9 to 5 and we don't get a memo from your boss's boss's boss (a la Office Space) if you mess up. Sure, we all have a boss (we call them "Go To"s) that we ultimately answer to, but their job is to support and empower, not micro-manage. Instead, we rely on a culture of personal responsibility. During every two-week sprint, there certainly are important things that need to be done, but life keeps on happening. If you need to leave early because a kid is sick at school or decide you want to log on Saturday night because you really want to get that project done, more power to you. Ultimately, we understand a job needs to be done and it falls on each of us doing our part to make that happen.. On my own team, if you should happen to make a mistake that requirements an immediate fix, you bring in donuts. Something small, but a reminder that everyone has a role to play in making sure the technology stays at its best, with a nice bonus of keeping your teammates bellies full and engagement high.
Hopefully it is clear that in Gallup technology, we do serious and important work. However, we also take time to celebrate each other and recognize achievement. Whenever the technology teams get together, we always end with the opportunity for shout-outs. This is a dedicated time to stand up and give props to anybody you think deserves it, whether they're on your team or not. If standing up in front of a crowd sounds too uncomfortable (I mean, we do work in technology… we are a thoughtful but introverted people), you can always write a thank you note (or as well call them "drops") and leave it on a desk. There are also birthday parties, baby showers, Year End awards, monthly recognition company-wide meetings, and on and on. If there is something worth celebrating, we find a way to celebrate it.
The Gallup culture is also built around all aspects of wellbeing (career, social, financial, physical, and community), and that plays into one of my favorite perks about the job: intramural sports. After engaging the brain for hours trying to build and maintain Gallup's technology, what better way to unwind than getting some exercise and trying to relive Uncle Rico-esque glory? While it may sound silly to some outside the company, a culture that allows friendly competition against fellow associates is very engaging to a guy like myself. I have made more friends across the Gallup campus out on the basketball court and gridiron than I ever could only hanging around the technology building.
If sports aren't your jam (basketball pun intended), Gallup offers trivia bowls, book clubs, fitness classes; basically, anything for anyone who is looking for a little something more than the cubicle work.
I admit, I've had a few glasses of the Gallup kool-aid, but it tastes good. Though I have never worked in another technology department, I have worked in enough other places to know that Gallup was right to build a culture with Don Clifton's words at its core - "What will happen when we think about what's right with people rather than fixating on what is wrong with them?" It is this person focused, strength-driven idea that makes Gallup a place that values personal responsibility, excellence, wellbeing, and fun. In my humble opinion, that is a culture worth working for.