Why the People You Work With Matter More Than You Think

When people talk about a good job, we tend to focus on the obvious things.

Salary. Benefits. Flexibility. Progression. The company name on your CV.

They all matter.

But think about the best job you’ve ever had - or the worst. Was it really the job itself that made the difference? Or was it the people?

Most of us can probably remember a role that was made infinitely better by a great manager, a supportive colleague or simply being part of a team that genuinely enjoyed working together.

Equally, a great job on paper can lose its shine very quickly if the relationships around you aren’t right.

We spend a huge amount of our lives at work. Who we spend that time with matters.

People experience businesses through people

We talk a lot about company culture, but I think sometimes we overcomplicate what that actually means.

Two people can work for the same company, receive the same benefits and have completely different experiences of working there.

Often, the difference is their immediate team - and particularly their manager.

There’s a well-known saying that people don’t leave jobs, they leave managers. I wouldn’t say that’s always true - people leave for all sorts of reasons – but after years of speaking to people about why they want to move jobs, there’s definitely something in it.

Very often, salary isn’t the whole story. It’s feeling unsupported. Not being listened to. Poor communication. A difficult team dynamic. Feeling undervalued. Or simply reaching the point where work doesn’t feel enjoyable anymore.

And the opposite is just as powerful - a good manager, a supportive team and colleagues who genuinely have each other’s backs can make even the busiest or most stressful periods manageable.

The strongest CV isn't always the best hire

This matters when recruiting too. Of course skills and experience are important. But you're not just hiring someone to perform a list of duties - you're introducing another person into an existing team.

Sometimes the candidate with the most impressive CV isn't necessarily the person who will add the most.

Someone who communicates well, brings a bit of calm when things get hectic, shares information, helps others and generally makes the working day better can have an impact far beyond their own role.

Likewise, one person who consistently creates friction can affect an entire team - however technically brilliant they might be.

That's why I think one of the most useful questions when hiring isn't simply: “Can they do the job?”

It's also: “What will they bring to the people already here?”

It matters in Guernsey

This is even more noticeable in a small community like ours.

Guernsey's employment market is incredibly interconnected. People move between businesses, former colleagues become clients, candidates become hiring managers - and reputations travel.

People remember how a workplace made them feel.

They remember the manager who backed them. The colleague who helped when things were difficult. The team where they felt part of something.

And they remember the opposite too.

You can have a fantastic brand, beautiful offices and a brilliant benefits package. They may get someone through the door.

But ultimately, it's the people they spend Monday to Friday with who will have a huge influence on whether they want to stay.

So perhaps the question isn’t just where you work.

It’s who you work with.