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via Brain Based Biz by noreply@blogger.com (Robyn McMaster) on 9/2/09
Zappos, CEO Tony Hsieh formed a theory, "if you create a work culture that fosters well-being, good practices and (eventually) good profits will naturally flow out of the operation." By 2008, Zappos.com hit a major financial milestone when gross merchandise sales for the year surpassed $1 billion, driven primarily by repeat customers and word of mouth. On any given day, approximately 75% of orders are from repeat customers."No matter what happens with the economy, the demand for talent will remain," Managing Editor Andy Serwer writes in his FORTUNE.com blog. "Great companies know that super-motivated, happy, world-class employees are an incredible competitive advantage."
How do good ideas harnessed in vision lead to policy where you work? Business schools teach the importance of creating vision. Yet, impact of carrying out policy to make vision a reality creates flames of inspiration or dampens them. Ever wonder what makes the difference as leaders and employees alike begin to walk the talk...
Interestingly, leaders shape vision into action as the brain cultivates new neuron pathways toward spirit and highest values. Let's look briefly at Zappo's "10 core values" formed by leaders and employees alike, to see how they relate to workings of the human brain.
1) Deliver WOW Through Service - Creating a "WOW" factor challenges the brain and breaks routines. The human brain leaps to problem solving and challenge to break boring routines.2) Embrace and Drive Change - Changes take place by taking on and tackling new approaches. You work in working memory more as you learn, practice and problem solve.
3) Create Fun and A Little Weirdness - Play brings a joy to the work experience. The drive to play is located in the brain's thalmus.
4) Be Adventurous, Creative, and Open-Minded - The human brain thrives on creativity. By developing a fascination for discovery and adventure, you can experience joy in your work.
5) Pursue Growth and Learning - Zappos created a company library which provides hundreds of self-help and positive psychology books, Carlin Flores notes in Psychology Today, Oct, 2009. Reading unleashes your brain's thinking box. And, now Zappos is offering courses as well.
6) Build Open and Honest Relationships With Communication - While experience and upbringing shape our communication style and the way we develop relationships, these can be changed. As we share what we care about with fellow workers we build honest relationships. Because the human brain has great plasticity, we can change how we communicate.
7) Build a Positive Team and Family Spirit - Creating a mindset that builds a team spirit can make or break an organization according to Jim Collins in How the Mighty Have Fallen. Folks at Zappos live team spirit daily.
8) Do More With Less - Having all the newest gadgets at work does not make people happier. Experiences create meaning because people find "more meaningful part of one's identity and contribute more to successful social relationships," according to Leaf Van Boven, psychologist at CU-Boulder. When the recession hit in 2009, Zappos changed their congratulatory $3,000 happy hour that bonds new employees to a $110.00 in-house social and it's just as effective, if not more, than going to a bar.
9) Be Passionate and Determined - If people are passionate about what they do, it stimulates on-the-job optimal experience. Demanding cognitive tasks prompt the brain to focus intensely by filtering out irrelevant signals as you work.
10) Be Humble - "Something interesting happens," Bruna Martinuzzi notes, "when we approach situations from a perspective of humility: it opens us up to possibilities, as we choose open-mindedness and curiosity over protecting our point of view. We spend more time in that wonderful space of the beginner's mind, willing to learn from what others have to offer. We move away from pushing into allowing, from insecure to secure, from seeking approval to seeking enlightenment. We forget about being perfect and we enjoy being in the moment." Humility is developed as part of the emotional or intrapersonal intelligence.
Brainpower's in play at Zappos!
Wonder how CEO Tony Hsieh truly walked the talk, when so many others let good ideas fizzle?
He describes the process...
Many companies have core values, but they don't really commit to them. They usually sound more like something you'd read in a press release. Maybe you learn about them on day 1 of orientation, but after that it's just a meaningless plaque on the wall of the lobby.If you were heading a company, what might you add to Zappo's 10 core values?
We believe that it's really important to come up with core values that you can commit to. And by commit, we mean that you're willing to hire and fire based on them. If you're willing to do that, then you're well on your way to building a company culture that is in line with the brand you want to build. You can let all of your employees be your brand ambassadors, not just the marketing or PR department. And they can be brand ambassadors both inside and outside the office.
What one would you like to see incorporated into your workplace?
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