Really, it has been 15 years?

So, I am completing 15 years in my current organization next March. It made me think why I remained with the same organization for such a long time. 15 years is a long time and of course, it was not a rosy picture all the time. There were ups and down, some frustration, moments where I felt that I should look outside, but also great feelings of pride and belongingness and loyalty. The main things that come to my mind, in retrospect, are as follows and frankly that’s what as an employee, I really appreciate:

1)     Opportunities and internal mobility- This is one of the best things that I experienced- opportunities in different locations, which made me grow in my career. The open-minded approach of the organization in taking “risks” with people in new positions is great and the results for the organization, in most cases, are extremely positive. I have moved within the organization in different location 3 times, with enhanced responsibilities and it has been amazing. Internal mobility is highly encouraged not only geographically, but also functionally. Many of my colleagues have benefitted from it and it also builds a sense of belongingness to the organization, especially in fickle times that we are facing today.

2)     Good people to work with- It is always said that we go to work to “work” and not to make friends. I must say that in my current organization, I have made some really good friends, who have remained friends, even after they have left the organization or relocated. Most of the ex-employees always say that they miss the camarederie and the friendly work environment of the organization. It does matter to me to work in an organization, where there are good human beings and am able to relate with them on the level of "intrinsic values".

3)     Great managers and leaders-Fortunately, my managers were very supportive and understood my working style. And I understood theirs. Mutual respect has been key in our relationship and from my side, the psychological safety provided by them has been a deciding factor for my stickiness to the organization.

4)     Humane approach to people matters- I have seen this time and again in people matters and since most of it is behind the scenes, employees may not know about the efforts being put in and investment made on people topics by managers at all levels. Yes, there are decisions, which are difficult, but a lot is done to find alternatives. This point continues to keep me bonded to this organization.

5)     Ability to implement ideas in my area- This was instrumental in making me interested in the job and be innovative. In any organization, the confidence that if the initiative is well justified, the chances of it being implemented are very high- is key in creating an innovative mind set.

6)     Development opportunities- There were plenty in terms of regular training and development initiatives. The investment in this area by the company was consistent, even during difficult times and that made me think positively about the organization. The internal opportunities that I mentioned earlier, were an extension of my development, which really bonded me to the organization.

7)     Support by the organization when I was not at my best- This point is really important, as we all go through troughs and crests in our life and in our performance. There are times when we fail. During these times, it’s important to have support by the organization (actually the people in the organization), and it makes the connection even stronger.

So, after almost 15 years, I am still in the same company and still feel a sense of belongingness. I look around me and I do feel that these are important factors for any employee to feel attached to an organization. These are akin to tenets of strong relationships in all phases of our life. A bit of each of them helps to make the bond stronger.