I’ve been inspired by Zappos for quite a while now. Not only are they insanely successful, it’s also a genuinely happy workplace, judging from all I’ve read about them.
Here’s a nice little piece from abc news that shows just how happy this company is:
MAN, that’s good to see :o)
Here are my top three reasons to love zappos.
1: They have a culture that promotes happiness at work
Zappos is committed to defining and living a positive, happy culture. Their values are:
1. Deliver WOW Through Service
2. Embrace and Drive Change
3. Create Fun and A Little Weirdness
4. Be Adventurous, Creative, and Open-Minded
5. Pursue Growth and Learning
6. Build Open and Honest Relationships With Communication
7. Build a Positive Team and Family Spirit
8. Do More With Less
9. Be Passionate and Determined
10. Be Humble
That’s your recipe for happiness right there.
2: They pay new employees to quit
At the end of your training as a new Zappos employee, the company offers you $2000 if you quit right away. This means that the people who stay are committed to the company and the culture.
Here’s an interview where Bill Taylor (formerly of Fast Company) talks about it.
3: They behave like human beings. Great human beings
The fact that people are happy at work (yes, even the ones answering the phone) means that they give incredibly good customer service.
And often that service goes above and beyond. I dare you to read this story and not shed a tear.
The upshot
Zappos gets it, as do more and more companies. When a business puts its people first (not the customer and not the investors, but the people) you increase happiness, creativity, productivity and profits.
This is not rocket science – and companies like Google, Southwest Airlines, SAS Insititute, Disney, Pixar and many many others will testify to the fact that it works.
So how does your company prioiritize? Are employees at the top of the list – or is that spot taken by profits, growth, customers, or..?
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