The Branson/Patagonia Work Theory

It seems that the days of wearing a suit and tie to the office are slowly but surely coming to an end. Mr. Richard Branson once said, “The idea that being a professional is linked to having a piece of fabric dangling from your neck is frankly ridiculous.” As the Founder & CEO of The Tenant Group I run my new Commercial Real Estate firm with that same sentiment and strongly agree with Mr. Branson’s statement. It has been said that organizations whose company culture is one that allows their employees to wear what they please to their workplaces, are significantly more productive than those that are still required to arrive for the day dressed to the nines.

Since the day we opened our doors for business I knew that I wanted to ensure that all my brokers come to an environment where they feel at home and comfortable thus I attempt to reinforce this by showing up to the office dressed how I feel most myself, in jeans and a tee. So then my question is why are some companies today still enforcing the good old “suit and tie?” Whatever the reason is, if work can be productive and business continues to thrive, my thought is why not allow your employees to be comfortable in the workplace, especially if it is more conducive to productivity and creativity!

It was paramount to The Tenant Group’s success that I set my company aside from most other CRE firms. In order to do this, we have adopted, like the company Patagonia, whose culture has made it imperative for their employees to have mandatory surf sessions, hikes, and some type of outdoor activity during work hours, that my brokers are also highly compelled to get in some type of physical activity during their busy work days. Whether this means allowing them to leave the office for a couple hours to hit the gym or making designated team physical activity days, it remains a high priority on my watch.

Not only have I found that these practices have been advantageous in benefitting my brokers in sustaining a healthy, fun and successful work environment but it has also been effective in allowing The Tenant Group to thrive as a team. We pride ourselves on our company slogan “Work Together. Work Smarter.” and I believe that our company culture and our teams forward way of thinking has been extremely lucrative in making our trademark not just something we say at TTG but something that we actually DO!

– Bryan W.

TTG, The New Frontier.

When we started working for a corporate real estate company we never thought we would have the opportunity to bring new ideas to an old business. After seven years, sweat, and yes some tears later, TTG was founded. We’re a youthful company comprised of young adults which seems strange in an industry rooted with “silver foxes” and tradition. Are we getting in over our heads or are we just doing what is necessary to stay current and start out ahead as a new firm in the commercial real estate industry?

With new ideas come new challenges… Cold calling? In 2015, It does not have the effectiveness it used to have in the past. What are the chances for example, of getting CEO Mark Zuckerberg on the phone? Does he even go to the office? Does he pick up the phone? Maybe, maybe not. Implementing new business development strategies beyond the traditional outlets of canvassing new business is just one way we separate ourselves from the pack, but it’s an important one in a business that thrives on commissions.

Access to the internet is the office of todays world. This is the new place every young CEO reports to every day to work. In addition to being online, CEO’s most likely attend charity or networking events or belong to certain organizations. And so that’s where you’ll find TTG. Maybe we have mutual friends or do business with the same people. This is how lasting business relationships are created, through personal connections, organic introductions and in the year 2015, a strong online presence. And so our social media accounts were born!

At TTG we believe in implementing new ideas and constantly asking ourselves the question, ‘What’s next for CRE?’ In our industry we know that trust, thoughtful actions, a strong online presence, transparency and forward thinking are all extremely crucial to our future business’ success. Since we are a new company we are doing our best to stay ahead of the curve. These are all the ways in which we think we set ourselves apart from other CRE game players, this is what gives TTG our edge.

– Peter B.