By Chris Lozaga, SuccessFactors Research Analyst

It’s 8:15 in the morning. Half strained from a restless night, my eyes dart right to left and back again, pouring over pixels, as I sort through my inbox. The bitter aftertaste of bergamot and artificial sweetener are the only noticeable effects of my hastily made morning tea, which hasn’t kicked in yet. Outlook tells me that aside from the 30 plus legitimate messages waiting for my response that I have 11 junk e-mails - maybe I’ll peruse them later for a quick laugh. Finally, I get to “clickin.” This is what I call my two-handed method of speed sorting e-mail, one on the mouse, one on the keyboard. I am sure I could do it all with hotkeys, but once you learn something one way… 30 messages become 15 in no time. “What’s this?” My vision sharpens suddenly and I can feel my heart beat just a little bit faster. My morning caffeine actually working now? Maybe. More likely it is “the race.”

Someone needs help, sent an email out to the entire company - pretty rare in other workplaces, but it happens here every day (hey, I could peg the CEO in the back of the head with a paper airplane from my seat if I wanted to, we have an open culture here. Not that I would ever actually do that, or even think about it… ahem). This is how “the race” begins. Anywhere else, helping out this person would be the last thing on everyone’s priority list. At SuccessFactors, helping your coworkers is priority number one, well unless a customer needs something. In fact, being the first person to help is sort of a badge of honor. The race is on!

I do research at SuccessFactors, meaning I have folders full of PDFs, whitepapers, and research projects that I know could help. The trick to winning the race is making an impact. It is no good to be the first responder if you don’t actually help. Before I know it my previously tired eyes have read through six surveys, blood is coursing to my hands. I always like the mechanical clatter of a keyboard when you are going at it full bore. I can’t type more than 25 words per minute, but it feels good.

“Damn!”

You know that little bubble that pops up when you get an e-mail? Someone beat me to the finish line. I will finish my e-mail and send it anyway, I have unique insights into the problem that could also be helpful.

That’s the real difference of working at SuccessFactors. Helping your coworkers is addictive and everyone’s input is valued. Anywhere else, this level of communication would be considered noise. In this office, it’s the soundtrack to an exciting race to make a difference.

Well, I may have lost this one, but I will be ready for the next “race.” At least I am charged up and ready to work now. I’ll just take a minute to flex my fingers, stiffened up from maxing out my keyboarding skills, crack my knuckles, and start working my way through the rest of my morning e-mail.