We: How to Increase Performance and Profits Through Full Engagement

Foreword

In my book, Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion, and Purpose (Business Plus, 2010), I write about how the number-one priority for us at Zappos is company culture. We believe that if we get the culture right, most of the other stuff, such as delivering great customer service or building a long-term enduring brand and business, will happen naturally on its own.

For us, it all starts with the hiring process. We do two sets of interviews. The first set is done by the hiring manager and his or her team, and is pretty typical, where we look for fit within the team, relevant experience, technical ability, and so on. Then, our HR department does a second set of interviews, looking purely for culture fit. Candidates have to pass both sets of interviews in order to be hired. Because of this, we've passed on a lot of very smart, talented people that we know could make an immediate impact on our top or bottom line; if they' re not a culture fit, we won't hire them. Our ultimate goal is to create a culture of happy, engaged, and productive employees.

In We: How to Increase Performance and Profits Through Full Engagement, Rudy Karsan and Kevin Kruse offer their insights drawn from their own experiences as well as from studying over 10 million employees around the world. They offer self-assessments and practical advice, which are designed to help you maximize your happiness at work. Managers can learn how to create an environment that fosters growth, recognition, and trust. ...