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Staff members together in the ball pool? Daily fare at Lighthouse.
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In the heart of Ghent, tucked between historic buildings and modern architecture, lies the office of Lighthouse. This dynamic software company focuses on the hospitality industry, working with hotels and hotel chains worldwide to set the right prices for their rooms and advertise effectively. But what makes Lighthouse so unique? Let's take a look behind the scenes and discover why a ball pool is the norm here.
An office that breathes creativity and innovation
Lighthouse's office is anything but conventional. In addition to the usual meeting rooms and workstations, you'll find swings, VR areas and even a music meeting room. The most striking addition is the ball pool. At first glance, it may seem like a quirk, but according to office manager Pieter-Jan Van Der Burgt, this kind of unconventional element encourages team productivity and creativity. The ball pool is used for informal meetings and serious online meetings, where employees can brainstorm freely and share new ideas without the constraints of a traditional office environment.
The essence of team fit
At Lighthouse, great importance is placed on team fit during the hiring process. Diplomas and experience are important, but if someone does not fit into the team, that person will not be hired. It's about fostering a positive atmosphere and maintaining group dynamics, something crucial to Lighthouse's culture.
Flexibility, trust and commitment. Office experience as the icing on the cake.
The pandemic has changed the way we work. Now employees are expected to decide where and when to work in consultation with their supervisors. This flexibility creates a high level of trust and responsibility, which contributes to team motivation and productivity. The office environment at Lighthouse is designed to provide a sense of home. There is no obligation to come to the office, but when employees are there, they should feel comfortable and welcome. This feeling of home contributes to employee motivation and well-being. This feeling also prevails between colleagues. Employees feel like comrades and care for each other. Team building activities, such as a weekend with campfire and boats in Ghent, strengthen this bond. Pieter-Jan sees his colleagues as "my guests" and makes sure they feel appreciated and cared for. More challenging activities such as the Fiertel walk and the Death Walk are also organized here. Participation is never mandatory, which ensures that everyone can participate at their own pace. This creates an inclusive atmosphere where everyone feels comfortable. Employees are given a lot of freedom and ownership over their work and time. As long as the results are good, it is less important when and where work is done.
Support and understanding
The flexible and supportive work environment ensures low absenteeism and high retention. Employees feel valued and supported, which reinforces their loyalty to the company. This, then, is what makes Lighthouse unique, the genuine care and attention given to employees. A good office manager is crucial, someone who guards the soul of the company and strengthens the community. This ensures that the culture remains real and alive, even in a growing international context.
With Pieter-Jan, we believe they have snared a very good office manager. With his vision and approach at Lighthouse, he shows how a company, through genuine care and flexibility, can maintain and strengthen a close and motivated team culture, even during major international growth. Lighthouse is a vibrant and dynamic environment where creativity and innovation are encouraged, and where employees have the freedom to do their work in their own way. This is the key to their success.
Grow, even internationally!
The company's growth brings challenges, especially at the international level. While it is important to maintain the culture, the responsibility does not lie solely with the managers. It is essential that the culture come from within the employees themselves. People like Pieter-Jan Van Der Burgt are appointed to support the organization, but ultimately the enthusiasm must come from the team itself. Which is certainly the case at Lighthouse.
International growth involves keeping the community heavily involved. Regular all-hands calls and executive visits to the international offices ensure that the connection and corporate culture are maintained, regardless of location. In other words, a true community.
Listen to our podcast with Pieter-Jan to step inside Lighthouse and feel the energy of a place where creativity and community are central. Here, every day is an opportunity to be inspired.
In the heart of Ghent, tucked between historic buildings and modern architecture, lies the office of Lighthouse. This dynamic software company focuses on the hospitality industry, working with hotels and hotel chains worldwide to set the right prices for their rooms and advertise effectively. But what makes Lighthouse so unique? Let's take a look behind the scenes and discover why a ball pool is the norm here.
An office that breathes creativity and innovation
Lighthouse's office is anything but conventional. In addition to the usual meeting rooms and workstations, you'll find swings, VR areas and even a music meeting room. The most striking addition is the ball pool. At first glance, it may seem like a quirk, but according to office manager Pieter-Jan Van Der Burgt, this kind of unconventional element encourages team productivity and creativity. The ball pool is used for informal meetings and serious online meetings, where employees can brainstorm freely and share new ideas without the constraints of a traditional office environment.
The essence of team fit
At Lighthouse, great importance is placed on team fit during the hiring process. Diplomas and experience are important, but if someone does not fit into the team, that person will not be hired. It's about fostering a positive atmosphere and maintaining group dynamics, something crucial to Lighthouse's culture.
Flexibility, trust and commitment. Office experience as the icing on the cake.
The pandemic has changed the way we work. Now employees are expected to decide where and when to work in consultation with their supervisors. This flexibility creates a high level of trust and responsibility, which contributes to team motivation and productivity. The office environment at Lighthouse is designed to provide a sense of home. There is no obligation to come to the office, but when employees are there, they should feel comfortable and welcome. This feeling of home contributes to employee motivation and well-being. This feeling also prevails between colleagues. Employees feel like comrades and care for each other. Team building activities, such as a weekend with campfire and boats in Ghent, strengthen this bond. Pieter-Jan sees his colleagues as "my guests" and makes sure they feel appreciated and cared for. More challenging activities such as the Fiertel walk and the Death Walk are also organized here. Participation is never mandatory, which ensures that everyone can participate at their own pace. This creates an inclusive atmosphere where everyone feels comfortable. Employees are given a lot of freedom and ownership over their work and time. As long as the results are good, it is less important when and where work is done.
Support and understanding
The flexible and supportive work environment ensures low absenteeism and high retention. Employees feel valued and supported, which reinforces their loyalty to the company. This, then, is what makes Lighthouse unique, the genuine care and attention given to employees. A good office manager is crucial, someone who guards the soul of the company and strengthens the community. This ensures that the culture remains real and alive, even in a growing international context.
With Pieter-Jan, we believe they have snared a very good office manager. With his vision and approach at Lighthouse, he shows how a company, through genuine care and flexibility, can maintain and strengthen a close and motivated team culture, even during major international growth. Lighthouse is a vibrant and dynamic environment where creativity and innovation are encouraged, and where employees have the freedom to do their work in their own way. This is the key to their success.
Grow, even internationally!
The company's growth brings challenges, especially at the international level. While it is important to maintain the culture, the responsibility does not lie solely with the managers. It is essential that the culture come from within the employees themselves. People like Pieter-Jan Van Der Burgt are appointed to support the organization, but ultimately the enthusiasm must come from the team itself. Which is certainly the case at Lighthouse.
International growth involves keeping the community heavily involved. Regular all-hands calls and executive visits to the international offices ensure that the connection and corporate culture are maintained, regardless of location. In other words, a true community.
Listen to our podcast with Pieter-Jan to step inside Lighthouse and feel the energy of a place where creativity and community are central. Here, every day is an opportunity to be inspired.
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