When you create a workplace where employees buy into the company’s mission, the return on that investment is... magical.
I took my family on a trip to an amusement park a few weeks ago, and like most parents, I had a vivid picture in my mind of how the day would go. I saw the smiles and laughter on my kids’ faces. I heard their happy squeals as they went on the rides. I felt the good vibes from the amusement park staff as they helped my kids onto the rides.
So you could imagine the disappointment I felt when, as we waited in line for the park’s most thrilling rollercoaster, I noticed that the attendant, a young man in his late teens, was helping kids get on and off with a look of total and utter boredom and indifference—even a little resentment. For someone whose job it is to give kids a good time, he showed zero signs of enthusiasm.
Just like excitement is contagious, so is the lack of it. The negative attitude of that one attendant tainted my kids’ enjoyment of that day. Needless to say, we won’t be going back.
Compare this to the magic of Disney, where over 70% of people who visit come back again. Everyone knows the enchantment of Disney is created not just by the attractions, but by the infectious joy shared by every person you meet at the Magic Kingdom. How is Disney able to do this? Because they make sure the theme park is not only “the happiest place in the world” to visit, but also to work.
And this goes for any business, in any industry. Whether you own an amusement park, an accounting firm, or a retail store, if you treat your employees well, pay them well, and their passion is aligned with your company’s mission, vision, and purpose, your customers will feel it, love it, and buy it. When you create a workplace where employees buy into the company’s mission, the return on that investment is… magical.
Here are three Ptex Practical Pointers to making sure your employees are happy—because happy employees equal happy customers.
1. Articulate your purpose, and make sure employees can, too.
From day one, it’s critical that your team members understand your company’s purpose, what you stand for and why you exist, and how they fit into the “big picture” of the organization. Having a clear purpose and role is empowering, and the more empowered your employees feel, the better they’ll be at their jobs.
2. Hire people who love what they do.
Bringing on employees who genuinely love what they do means they’ll also want to exceed your customer’s expectations. Recognizing and rewarding your employees when they go above and beyond the call of duty will multiply that effect manifold.
3. Lead with intention.
Ultimately, the responsibility for creating a happy and fulfilled work environment rests on its leaders. Core values are nice written in big letters on the walls, but it’s the small, everyday interactions between you and your employees that will shape the way they feel about their work—and as a result, the success of your company.
Walt Disney once said, “You can dream, create, design, and build the most wonderful place in the world, but it requires people to make the dream a reality.”
Your employees are the soul of your company. Your clients’ happiness depends on theirs. Invest in it, and you’ll be rewarded for your efforts.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on this! Please comment and let me know. I am sincerely interested in hearing and learning from you.
—MH
