After losing someone because their interests and motivations were no longer aligned with “the portfolio”, I’ve made it a practice to (semi-)regularly poll the team to find out what about our current (and potential) portfolio interests them the most, or what they are disinterested in the least, but also to ask, if we could grow/broaden our portfolio, what would you be motivated to pursue? In some cases, I’ll even offer a transition to part time or contract if our current portfolio is not sufficiently rewarding for someone to commit to their best work full time, or if they have a tasty freelance gig they could pursue that doesn’t conflict or impede the team’s success on our portfolio. Sometimes it feels like trying to run a successful socialist co-op while embedded within corporate America, but I think it’s healthy for the entire team to acknowledge that “our portfolio is our portfolio” but it need not be your only portfolio.
I literally lol'd at "socialist co-op." It really does feel like that sometimes! (Also: I don't think that's a bad thing, if I'm honest.) It's great that you have the potential flexibility of offering part time or contract when appropriate. I know a lot of places won't go near that, but it would be a great tool to be able to address this issue.
After losing someone because their interests and motivations were no longer aligned with “the portfolio”, I’ve made it a practice to (semi-)regularly poll the team to find out what about our current (and potential) portfolio interests them the most, or what they are disinterested in the least, but also to ask, if we could grow/broaden our portfolio, what would you be motivated to pursue? In some cases, I’ll even offer a transition to part time or contract if our current portfolio is not sufficiently rewarding for someone to commit to their best work full time, or if they have a tasty freelance gig they could pursue that doesn’t conflict or impede the team’s success on our portfolio. Sometimes it feels like trying to run a successful socialist co-op while embedded within corporate America, but I think it’s healthy for the entire team to acknowledge that “our portfolio is our portfolio” but it need not be your only portfolio.
I literally lol'd at "socialist co-op." It really does feel like that sometimes! (Also: I don't think that's a bad thing, if I'm honest.) It's great that you have the potential flexibility of offering part time or contract when appropriate. I know a lot of places won't go near that, but it would be a great tool to be able to address this issue.