Author: Lisa Ridgwell, Solutions Evangelist
Engagement. Retention. Interest. Recognition. Being viewed as a leader.
These are the many benefits of looking beyond an immediate need resolution and, instead, taking a step back to look at the bigger picture. The technology solutions you implement are the catalyst.
Jim Necsi, CEO of Blue Foundry Bank, headquartered in Parsippany, NJ, sat down with me to discuss the “people first, technology second, but a very close second” approach to the design of their workplace technology in their brand-new 40,000 sq. ft. HQ – especially important now that organizations are up against the challenge of motivating employees to return to the office.
As they considered the design of their new hybrid HQ, Blue Foundry viewed technology as an essential investment to engage and retain employees, attract new ones, and additionally, change the perception of banking for the industry and customers alike.
“We look at what the people are doing all day. How do we keep them happy? How do we keep them engaged? What if we could create a work experience that was like their favorite experience? And that’s how we designed our office. We started with our employee experience first. And we wanted it to be super engaging.” – Jim
Think about the times you’ve entered a space (whether your own or as a guest) and felt completely underwhelmed. It felt dated and low energy. I’ll bet you left that space with a less than confident and positive state of mind. No organization wants to hear they are viewed as “archaic, boring, not a great place to work, or not where people want to bring their business.”
Jim and his team implemented technology solutions that not only meet their day-to-day job demands, but also enable them to perform them effortlessly. For example, meeting spaces come to life just by walking in. For video conferencing, everyone enjoys an equally inclusive and productive meeting experience whether they’re in the room or working remotely. This has presented employees with a whole new outlook on being in the office.
We discussed the importance of employees and team members feeling confident and comfortable at work. Confident that the office will provide them with the tools and resources to be even more productive and successful, and the comfort of knowing that Blue Foundry has their best interests, mentally and emotionally, in mind.
“We want your day to have a beginning and an end, and it truly has a beginning and end when you come to the office. We think by coming to the office, we’ve actually reduced your stress level.” - Jim
When I learned that they have music playing throughout the building with a schedule of different genres, I informed Jim that I’d be making my way down for a visit to show off my dance moves – especially when he informed me that there’s a stage in the common area built for events and engagements! All that’s missing is a disco ball!
All jokes aside, these “extras” help promote engagement and socialization, and have given the Blue Foundry teams something to brag about to friends and family.
“It just keeps people engaged and it keeps the feel around the office a little bit lighter. It doesn’t feel like what people think banks feel like. It’s very open and it’s held together by the technology.” – Jim
As I noted before, the technology has pushed the envelope even beyond the employee experience. In asking Jim about the extended impact of his vision, he said that in addition to employees boasting to family (even bringing them in for tours), they are receiving a tremendous increase in press and interest – both from customers and new talent.
“The technology gets people excited; they talk about the bank, which in turn brings us new customers and they say, ‘Hey, we just heard about this really interesting bank doing it a little bit differently.’ Blue Foundry Bank is like a foundry, where you create experiences.” – Jim
Listen in for the full story on Blue Foundry Bank’s vision to engage and deliver experiences beyond the meeting room. Discover the factors and mindset that went into their decisions, and why the choice of manufacturers, designers, and integrators is vital to bringing that vision to life.
When you take the approach of “people first,” you’re forcing yourself (and I say that positively) to view the bigger picture and the impact it can have across your organization. Not only the influence on day-to-day tasks, but also on workflows, productivity, employee engagement, and even the outside perception of who you are as an organization – in other words, your brand.
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