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.