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Last month I sat down with well-known accountancy firm Grant Thornton to discuss my thoughts on mid-sized companies in Australia for the G20 edition of The Australian.
I have always been a strong supporter of small- to medium-sized businesses, having been a part of these companies for most of my working life. I believe there are many benefits associated with mid-sized businesses that are often overlooked.
Studies have shown a higher level of job satisfaction among employees of mid-sized businesses than those in larger firms. Much of this satisfaction is aligned with the flexible management styles mid-sized firms tend to employ. These businesses are not so large that they require rigid structures and procedures, but not so small that they have cash flow issues. This flexibility allows for workplace innovation, where leaders are open to change and new ways to improve the business.
With the hustle and bustle of today’s society, it’s easy to get caught up in an “all work and no play” mentality. The innovative nature of mid-sized companies often allows for varied working options, helping employees balance life and work. This flexibility has been linked with lower stress and higher levels of satisfaction among employees. People are the greatest asset of any business, so recognising their needs and catering to them has wide-reaching benefits.
These businesses also provide employees with more responsibility earlier in the role. Employees are not 'lost in the crowd'; management notices contributions and appreciates work early on. I’ve blogged before about the benefit of people being in a position to make a decision and see it happen, and how it ties back to the bigger business plan. People appreciate feeling autonomous, having more influence and being closer to the action.
The higher level of responsibility associated with most roles in these businesses allows for growth. Employees are often expected to learn and train on the job, which at first can be overwhelming, but ultimately increases their skill level. Taking an active approach to learning and upskilling an employee not only benefits your company but makes employees feel valued.
Mid-sized companies account for 25 per cent of the economy and employ 24 per cent of the Australian workforce. As the backbone of our workforce, they should be supported. I’m truly proud to be part of a mid-sized company, and look forward to seeing how these businesses evolve over the coming years.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Alister Maple-Brown
Alister Maple-Brown is the CEO of leading property management software provider, Rockend. After completing his BA in both Australia and the United States he worked on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC followed by two years as an analyst, trainer and business development manager in the worldwide sales division at Inktomi, a rapid growth software business in Silicon Valley, California.
Alister has been with Rockend since 2001 and as sales manager grew new business revenues by 40 per cent over the years before moving into the marketing team until 2007. For the following three years he led the product development team before moving to the role of general manager of PropertyTree, Australia’s first cloud based property management solution. In mid-2012 Alister became CEO of Rockend.
Alister is dedicated to the development of innovative technology which will become even more central to Rockend’s future progress in the property industry.
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