By now, you’ve learned a bit about what we value at Chillistore, and how we prioritize our principles. Continuous Improvement and Clear Communication are the first two on our list. The third? Being There for Each Other.

When you consider your co-workers, what comes to mind? Do you operate on separate planes and only cross paths when necessary? Do you know what they leave behind when they come to work? Are you aware of their strengths and weaknesses, and do you know how to communicate with them?

So often, we consider “being there” something we reserve for family and friends — we lend helpful hands, offer shoulders to cry on, and provide positive words of encouragement. What if we were willing to extend the sentiments behind these actions to our professional lives? At Chillistore, we believe that a supportive team is a well-functioning one. Creating an environment where people feel free to share, collaborate, and listen openly is our third most important feature, and something we work to achieve daily.

We consider our teams to be “relay teams.” No, we’re not sprinting and passing batons on an Olympic track; but we are working hard to move forward, passing along ideas and creative inspiration as we go. If there’s anything we can’t get enough of, it’s the inspiration that comes from free-flowing knowledge exchanges. You know about one subject and someone else has expertise in another? Grab lunch. Schedule a Zoom meeting. Pick each other’s brains. There will always be someone who knows more than you on a specific topic, and you’ll always know more than someone else — why not share the knowledge?

Another key factor to being there for each other is being brave enough to admit what you don’t know, and not judging others for their knowledge gaps. There’s no room for unhealthy competition or insecurity when it comes to building a strong team. We try to make people feel equally comfortable saying, “Hey, I don’t know about this, could you explain?” and, “I know all about this! Let me explain.” If you need help, ask for it. If you can help, offer to.

Taking time during our busy work days to really be there for each other may seem daunting; but it’s more about small efforts than major ones. For example, if you’re feeling overwhelmed, start by prioritizing your own work. If there’s anything you absolutely can’t add to your plate, reach out for a helping hand. Similarly, if you recognize you can take something off of someone else’s plate, do it — the support won’t go unnoticed. Even a simple Slack message like, “I noticed you’ve been working extra late – anything I can do to help?” is enough to start the collaboration process and make your teammates feel seen and understood. 

At Chillistore, we believe in a strong work-life balance. This means working hard, but having time for personal things that matter. We don’t pride ourselves on burning out — in fact, we do everything we can to avoid it. We encourage people to notice when they or their peers are working late hours, or too many hours in a day or week. We want our employees to feel comfortable reaching out to their peers or manager, to express concern or ideas for improvement. We want people to be compassionate with each other, and compassion for others stems from compassion for yourself. Take care of yourself, and you’ll be able to help care for others. It’s the Chillistore way.