What do you call a day when you get to hear a successful turn-around story straight from the mouth of Intel's VP of Human Resources Richard Taylor, have lunch followed by a keynote address by Zappos.com CEO Tony Hsieh, sit in on several intriguing and informative breakout sessions, and then end with a session by Maxine Clark, the Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Bear of Build-A-Bear Workshops? For folks attending the national Great Place to Work Conference in Denver put on by the Great Place to Work Institute it's just part of the routine. But for me, attending the conference for the first time, it's like being a kid in a candy store. Most of the companies recognized on the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For in America list are in attendance and there are folks from many different countries as well. I sat next to folks from Finland and Japan and that was just at breakfast.
Why are all these people in Denver? To share their knowledge about what makes a company a great place to work. Pinnacol is honored to have made the Great Place to Work list in the Medium size company category and what I am learning is that we are doing many of the things our larger (much larger!) counterparts are. Pinnacol is not alone in recognizing that taking care of our employees results in our employees taking better care of our customers but every company takes it's own special path to developing a great culture and work environment.
Tony Hsieh was probably the most unique presenter as he detailed his philosophy that delivering happiness (to employees, vendors, customers, and everyone they come in contact with) is the cornerstone of Zappos success. For those of you unfamiliar with Zappos, they sell shoes, clothing, and other items but their real product, what really sets them apart, is service.
The conference, being held at the Hyatt Regency, wraps up tomorrow, but the inspiration will last a long time!
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