Turn on, tune in, play up

Making airwaves: The Grill Team at Triple M in Sydney bring on the breakfast radio

Austereo’s head of human resources, Jill Johnston, recounts comedy duo Hamish and Andy’s “pants-off Friday” antics with a smile. She says the radio presenters are known to parade around Austereo’s offices in their underwear on Fridays to get “that Friday feeling”.

However, this Friday in the company’s Sydney offices, thankfully everyone is fully dressed.

The radio heavyweight, which operates stations in all capital cities, is ranked 24 on this year’s BRW Best Places to Work list, and the colourful, open-plan offices are what a visitor would expect from most media companies.

Yet it is clear from the beginning that this is no ordinary place to work. Austereo’s 740 or so permanent and casual employees look like they’re having fun, finding a balance between hard work and play.

The glassed-in production booths in the middle of the office are complete with radio presenter Jackie O’s jewel-studded microphone stand. Triple M’s rock’n’roll is playing and the aroma of pizza is in the air.

Most workstations throughout the open-plan office are elaborately decorated (Jackie O’s sparkling, pink crown sits on her desk) and someone has played a joke on an unsuspecting colleague, shrouding their workspace in masking tape.

An Austereo employee whizzes past, letting his colleagues know free pizza has arrived for those who are hungry.

Popular Triple M presenters “Rampaging” Roy Slaven (John Doyle) and HG Nelson (Greig Pickhaver) greet visitors in their kooky, friendly manner. It’s as if they are still on air.

The pair sit among their Austereo colleagues and flick through The Daily Telegraph, studying the pursuits of deceased billionaire entrepreneur Richard Pratt.

“Geez, Pratt just gets more impressive, doesn’t he?” Roy says to HG as they read about his second mistress, a former escort.

Fun and entertainment are the name of the game at Austereo, but there is a point to it all, Johnston says.

The camaraderie and friendly banter translate into good radio because employees who are passionate about the end product always deliver a better result.

National radio rankings show the strategy is paying off. March radio ratings from Nielsen show Austereo holds the number one FM position in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane.

Although revenue was down by $7.8 million in 2008-09 to $258.9 million as advertisers slashed marketing spending during the global financial crisis, earnings are expected to increase this year.

Professional development and mentoring, and a culture that rewards new ideas and results, are responsible for the company’s ongoing success, Johnston says.

Austereo develops high performers through formal and informal mentoring, team building and professional development programs.

All personnel receive a formal appraisal annually from managers who are trained on assessing performance, give feedback and help set career objectives. Training and development plans are then designed around an employee’s goals to ensure individuals receive relevant training, which can include external training and study, internal training, online training, on-the-job development and coaching.

A team of 15 senior managers – all trained as mentors – identify outstanding employees who are then earmarked for leadership roles. These candidates are put through the company’s excellence in leadership program, which includes group-based training in leadership, emotional intelligence, communication and change management, team project work, coaching, community and charity work, mentoring and networking.

However, before the program starts, the candidates are asked to consider their challenges and learning needs. They are also allocated a suitable mentor from the senior leadership team to work with over the 12-month program.

The model has been so successful that the company plans to extend the mentor training program, spreading the initiative through the business, Johnston says.

The company also offers employees “fill-in training”, enabling an employee to replace a colleague in short-term absences, which in turn allows them to feel they are moving forward in the company and developing their skills.

This strategy ties in with a policy to recruit internally “almost always”. Employees feel in control of their career progression and recognise any training needs required to get them where they want to be.

Nonetheless, training is not reserved for those who have been with the company for a long time. Inductions are offered to employees returning from parental leave to fill them in on what they may have missed.

“We make sure they have all the information they need to make sure they have a smooth transition back to work,” Johnston says. 

Employees are encouraged to work hard, she says, and the company is well positioned to reward that hard work with plenty of perks.

For example, Austereo’s Sydney office features an impressive roof-top terrace overlooking south-western Sydney, and most of the company’s interstate offices have similar terraces. Sydney’s terrace is the site of regular Friday “team meet” drinks, where high-performing employees are recognised, new staff are welcomed, and everyone gets to hear what’s happening across business units.

Team-building exercises like these are also used regionally to enhance collaboration between business units in the capital cities.

Adelaide co-ordinates an Austereo Idols recognition system, in which peers select a high-performing colleague and a bottle of wine is presented to the winner. Melbourne managers award massage and day spa vouchers to employees who have performed well and, each quarter, staff are treated to team building activities such as ice skating and tai chi.

Formal staff recognition awards are also presented across the business nationally. Staff vote for colleagues who have gone beyond their normal duties to achieve a great outcome against criteria aligned with the company’s values. Chief executive Guy Dobson presents rewards including retail and holiday vouchers.

Go to Best Places to Work 2010 Index.

BRW

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