With the aim of improving the working environment and fostering a healthier work climate, companies are looking to implement innovative strategies within their organizations. One such emerging practice is the ad hoc changing of roles or workstations, which has been shown to have a positive impact on employee productivity and well-being. Comet, the innovative start-up that calls itself a "meeting scientist", has set up the "Vis Ma Vie" program to enable company members to discover the business from a complementary angle. The aim is to foster empathy, recognize the work of colleagues and understand the impact of each individual on the end result. The concept also aims to support employees in exploring and pursuing their passions and professional goals within the company, placing their personal development at the heart of the process.
Since opening in 2017, Comet has organized training sessions called "Vis Ma Vie". These sessions take place every six months and aim for all employees to experience working on-site alongside customers, particularly in hospitality-related roles. This approach enables human resources and accounting teams, for example, to experience the reality of operational staff, gain a deeper understanding of the product and get closer to customers. What's more, valuable ideas, applicable to their own functions, emerge from this experience. Field experience is essential for Comet, as visitors consistently emphasize the warmth and service orientation of the teams as key ingredients for success. In addition, employees from the Spanish operational team have the opportunity to take part in the "Vis Ma Vie" program in Belgian or French establishments, giving them a broader perspective, encouraging the exchange of ideas and promoting alignment.
This initiative enables employees to discover what their ideal job would be, and demonstrates that at Cimet, professional development is encouraged, which generates satisfaction among employees. Employees who have worked in different areas and countries share their experiences of role transitions within the company, highlighting how these transitions have enabled them to develop new skills and take on exciting challenges. This has a positive impact on the way employees feel about the company. For example, according to Anais, sales team manager at Comet France, when she left the company to take on a new project, she felt the need to find "a close team, absolute trust and a willingness to move forward together".
What's more, according to Victor Carreau, co-founder and CEO of Comet, this concept is fundamental in an industry such as Comet's: "Given that our work in hospitality relies on experience and key human elements, it's really important, even critical, that we're close to the ground and in touch with our visitors. Our top priorities are always to put the customer first, and to ensure that the quality of the experience we offer is consistent across all our establishments, whatever the country. Because we're not superheroes, and we need to be closer to the ground than anyone else, the co-founders also take part in the "Vis Ma Vie" program for two days a year".
In short, ad hoc changes to job roles, such as the "Vis Ma Vie" program developed by Comet, illustrate how a strong corporate culture that encourages learning and collaboration can improve the working climate and offer employees the space and opportunities to grow and develop professionally within the company, benefiting both employees and the company as a whole.
