Zappos' Holacracy: A Culture of Self-Management and Longevity

Zappos thrives on a quirky culture and self-management, aiming for longevity beyond typical corporate fates.

### Zappos: A Unique Culture and Holacracy for Long-Term Success
* 👟 "The default fate for most companies is actually **death**," says Tony Hsieh, emphasizing the importance of Zappos' unique culture to ensure its **survival for the next 500 years**.
* 📈 Zappos has adopted a self-management approach known as **holacracy**, allowing **every employee's voice to be heard**, rather than just the loudest in the room.
* 🐶 The company has even embraced a **canine-friendly policy**, a change that was previously **shut down** but approved through their **new structure**.
* 🎉 Employees participate in quirky traditions like Tutu Tuesdays, fostering a **positive team spirit** and a **sense of family** within the workplace.
* 📊 Despite a high turnover rate of nearly **30%** in 2015, many employees, like Letha Myles, remain committed to **learning and adapting to the new culture**.
* 💼 Zappos prioritizes hiring based on **cultural fit** over education, aiming to create a workforce that aligns with its core values of **fun, humility, and exceptional customer service**.
* 💰 The company's focus on employee happiness has proven beneficial, as they reported hitting **a billion dollars in sales** in 2008, driven largely by **repeat customers and positive word-of-mouth**.
* 🔄 Hsieh's belief in **self-management** allows Zappos to remain **nimble and innovative**, contrasting with the traditional **top-down corporate structure** that often **stifles creativity**.

Zappos is a weird company -- and it's happy that way

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Zappos is known for its quirky corporate culture and emphasis on customer service, with a campus in downtown Vegas and unconventional hiring practices.

The company's core values prioritize embracing change, humility, fun, and exceptional customer service.

Zappos' unique approach includes a 365-day free shipping return policy and customer service reps making up a third of the workforce, with a focus on building strong relationships with customers.

Zappos' Unique Approach to Employee Happiness

Zappos invests heavily in employee morale, offering perks like Zollars for redeeming company swag and monthly bonuses for outstanding colleagues.

The company's focus on employee happiness is driven by the belief that happy employees provide better customer service.

Zappos' unconventional strategies, like games in the elevator and random acts of kindness, aim to foster a positive and collaborative work environment.

Zappos, under Tony Hsieh's leadership, achieved over a billion dollars in gross merchandise sales by focusing on repeat customers and word of mouth.

The company has implemented a controversial holacracy system, eliminating bosses and creating self-governing teams.

Hsieh believes that self-management is crucial for Zappos' longevity and innovation, allowing the company to grow in a more dynamic and productive way.

Zappos' holacracy meetings start with a check-in round to address distractions and tensions.

The company's self-organization structure led to a significant turnover, with 18% taking buyouts.

Jason Brown, the front desk dress code enforcer, offers visitors unique options for dealing with their attire, while Tony Hsieh's leadership has been instrumental in shaping Zappos' culture.

Zappos aims to defy the common fate of companies by implementing self-management and holacracy.

The company's canine-friendly policy and unique hiring process, including a video valentine, foster a supportive and inclusive culture.

Zappos' core values emphasize building a positive team and family spirit, with fun initiatives like Tutu Tuesdays to engage employees.