SAN DIEGO – Successful PCOs understand the importance of creating a strong culture that enables their team members to reach their fullest potential. As part of Thursday’s General Session, sponsored by Syngenta, Zappos Insights co-founder Robert Richman shared with PestWorld attendees some of his “culture-changing principles, hacks and techniques” that PestWorld attendees could apply to their own businesses.
Zappos Insights was co-created by Richman as a program that teaches companies about the Zappos company culture, which it describes as “weird and fun.”
After having observed how this unique company culture helped improve employee engagement, increased productivity, promoted brand loyalty, and enhanced financial performance, Richman and Zappos founder Tony Hsieh launched Zappos Insights, which shares the Zappos culture through training, events and more.
Richman provided a condensed (60 minute) version of a Zappos Insights event. Important take-home messages for attendees were “culture hacks,” which are small, emotional, immediate changes that can have significant impacts.
For example, a common mistake that businesses make is creating Help Wanted ads with boring standard headlines and descriptions (e.g., Accountant Needed). Instead, they should be marketing themselves to find like-minded team members, perhaps using photos or videos. Also within these ads they should include a box where those interested can leave their email address. “Now you have them on file instead of having to scramble to fill positions. And that is how you develop your bench,” Richman said.
Another hack Richman provided was having management spend an entire day or more – not one hour – working in various positions in a company. Richman said he encouraged one of his clients – the CEO of an amusement park – to spend an entire day collecting tickets. The CEO observed that after several hours the ticket collectors needed more comfortable chairs and to change up the music that was playing on a loop.
In addition to being a speaker, Richman is the author of the “Culture Blueprint,” a guide to creating a high-performing workplace.