In reflecting back on 2009, and looking forward to 2010, the best investment any company can make is still investing in the right people and providing a culture where they will develop and thrive.
At Zappos.com, Tony Hsieh has fostered a culture that is emulated by companies worldwide.
In Hsieh’s opening remarks at SXSW, Hsieh, relates, “I’m talking about all these things that we do for customer service, and it may make you think that customer service is the company’s number one priority, but it’s actually not. Our number one priority is company culture. Our whole belief is that, if you get the culture right, then most of the other stuff, like great customer service or building a long term enduring brand, will just happen naturally on its own, and you don’t need to worry about a lot of stuff that a lot of companies spend their time and resources worrying about.
So, what are some of the things that we do for company culture. Well, it starts with the hiring.”
As you plan for 2010, what investments will you be making in people and your company’s culture?
A video of the event can be found here.