How Dynamic Methods cultivate long-tenured employees through The Sound of Music

Picture it, Silicon Valley, 1997 – open plan desks with billiard tables and pinball machines abound at every tech startup office space along Sand Hill Road. As dusk begins to cast a shadow across your workspace when you realise winning the office pie eating contest and beating your high score on the Ms. Pac-Man pinball hasn’t drawn you any closer to completing the feature that needs to be deployed...first thing the following day.

While this can be seen as bad time management, it also begs the question - were employees seduced by a few of their favourite things, disguising the non-existent work-life balance culture contributing to the tech industry having one of the highest turnover rates?

Pioneered by Google, the hills were alive with free snacks and game rooms, the golden tickets to attracting top technical talent. Now that the Dotcom bubble of the early 2000s has dissipated, and remote and hybrid work models from the last few years are here to stay, let’s face it - these perks no longer have the same ‘climb every mountain’ appeal by following every rainbow, as they once did.

As noted by Chris McNamara, chief revenue officer at HR platform Remote, in TechRepublic - “no amount of ping pong tables and catered lunches is going to make up for the fact that remote work enables people to embrace what’s really important in their life. And I think that shift, is here to stay”.

Well, here at Dynamic Methods, we certainly concur and have proudly done things a little differently from the start – just ask our long tenured team members, who have yet to say, so long farewell, auf wiedersehen adieu!

While long-term tenure is often seen as a rarity among the tech industry, we take great pride in the exceptional longevity of our staff – collectively, with 85 years and counting. This is a direct result of the company culture we’ve fostered from day dot.

So, without divulging all our secrets, we thought we’d share how we cultivated a positive work environment, sans game rooms, nurturing our long serving team members - where the first three notes just happen to be, do-re-mi.

Do - start with the hiring process

Let’s start at the very beginning, it’s a very good place to start!

At Dynamic Methods, when we’re looking for a new team member, we adopt the philosophy “skills can be taught, good character cannot”.

The first step toward reducing the possibility of high staff turnover involves hiring candidates with qualities that resonate with your company culture and long-term retention in mind.

There is also that je ne sais quoi quality we look for that can only be determined after spending time with the team - enter our four-week trial period. During this time, potential team members are hands-on with our established members on active projects, allowing the whole team to gauge if they would be a good fit.

Raise - the bar and elevate the onboarding experience

As reported by The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), 20% of staff plan to leave a company within the first 45 days. This highlights a crucial truth: if the onboarding experience isn’t engaging, new hires may start feeling disconnected from the start.

To combat this, during the four-week trial period, we adopt an onboarding process that helps to make newcomers feel welcome and supported from their first day. Going beyond merely outlining a work schedule, we guide them through our software architecture and start assigning tickets - fostering an open and encouraging group dynamic.

Mitigate - a competition culture for a collaborative one

Longevity breeds mentorship, and that’s where the magic happens!

Seasoned employees play a pivotal role in guiding new team members, by sharing their expertise, while instilling a culture of innovation and excellence. This mentorship fosters a vibrant cycle of learning and growth, ensuring as we expand, we maintain the unique substance that defines us.

This spirit of collaboration not only upholds high standards across all areas of the business but aligns everyone - regardless of their experience level - with our mission and goals. It’s this seamless teamwork that empowers us to adapt to the fast-paced changes in our industry while staying true to our core values.

When we look at our team, it’s clear that we’re not just a group of colleagues – we’re a community of professionals committed to the long-term vision of transforming the real estate industry through technology. The average tenure of our staff is notably higher than the industry average, with many key members having been with the company for 6, 10, and even 15 years.

This longevity isn't just a testament to the positive work culture we foster, but also a critical factor in our ability to continuously improve our platform. These employees have been with us since the early stages of our development, giving them a unique understanding of the platform’s history, the challenges we’ve overcome, and the roadmap ahead.

Sew - a strong company culture

Want employees to stick around long enough to give back the value you've invested in them? Well, here’s the catch: you’ve got to give them more than a paycheck. Sure, compensation is important, we all need to have our lights on and food in our fridge, but did you know it ranks only #3 in the top drivers of engagement?

What’s #1? Meaning. Employees want to know their work matters - whether it's in the daily tasks, the team dynamics, or the company’s vision. If a company doesn’t have a powerful ‘why’ for the team to work towards, they’re missing out on the secret sauce needed to retain staff beyond the first couple of months of their tenure.

Just ask the team at Dynamic Methods, but not at 4pm... that’s dedicated to our daily team building exercise AKA online Pictionary – did we mention they’ve been with the company an impressive collective 82 years total and counting?

Fair - a leader with direction, not dictation

Nobody wants to feel like a cog in the machine, mindlessly following orders. That’s where strong, collaborative leadership comes in. Give your team a clear sense of direction, but make sure they’re part of the journey, not just along for the ride.

We encourage feedback from our team from the beginning, as they all come from diverse backgrounds and offer valuable perspectives about our products – adopting the adage ‘the best idea wins, no matter who it comes from’.

We strongly believe when a team feels heard and valued, they will bring their A-game, and that, dear reader, is where the magic happens.

Level - a work-life balance for employee well-being  

While remote and hybrid work environments are flexible, offering numerous benefits for both employees and employers, it can also challenge the delicate balance between work and personal life.

At Dynamic Methods, we understand the importance of a strong work-life balance, especially in preventing burnout. To promote this balance, we ensure work hours are between 9 – 5, aligning with business needs without encroaching on the personal time of our team. This traditional structure, which is almost unheard of in the tech sector, has not only boosted employee satisfaction but also enhanced retention, proving that a focus on well-being is a win-win for everyone involved.

Tees - a shirt we wear to fuel product innovation

Innovation and agility are two essential qualities for a Proptech to survive in such a competitive industry. The marker for a true 360 company, however, is the depth of experience a long-tenured team brings to the table. Our employees' technical expertise, industry insights, and deep knowledge of our product and customers are unparalleled - being the driving force behind the thoughtful evolution of our platform.

Their intimate understanding of our system’s architecture allows them to foresee potential hurdles and opportunities that less-experienced teams might overlook. They can anticipate client needs and deliver modern features that are both practical and scalable.

The steady growth of our flagship product, Forms Live, is a direct result of the collective knowledge and insight gained through years of experience. Our long-tenured team are instrumental in driving the kind of forward-thinking, sustainable development that ultimately benefits our clients.

All of this is accomplished with one of our team shirts on our backs.

Looking to the Future

As we continue to scale and innovate, we are deeply grateful for the dedication of our long-tenured employees at Dynamic Methods. Their commitment to the company and their belief in our vision is reflected in the robust platform we’ve built together.

Although the Proptech industry is constantly evolving, the stability, experience, and innovation of our long tenured team, we are confident that we will continue to lead the way in developing solutions that meet the needs of Australian property professionals.

Do-re-mi-fa-so-la-ti are the tools you need to build a loyal, long-tenured workforce.

The longevity of our staff is the foundation upon which our success is built and a source of pride in what we’ve built. Every feature, every upgrade, every decision is backed by years of experience and a deep understanding of our industry and our clients’ needs. As we look ahead to new challenges and opportunities, it is the knowledge, dedication, and insight of our long-tenured employees that will ensure our continued growth and success.

Interested in joining a team where longevity and innovation go hand in hand? Check out our careers page and learn more about the team at Dynamic Methods.