I didn’t always love to grocery shop….but since I moved to Florida 19 years ago, I have shopped at the same Publix location and really enjoyed it. I know most of the clerks by name, and some of them even know my name. The point is, for all these years, the faces serving me have not changed. No one leaves their job and few shoppers switch grocery stores.
My loyalty surprises my husband who always asks where I got ….the fish, the flowers, the fancy skewered veggies….etc. Always the same answer – Publix.
I sometimes ask myself why. We have a fancy Fresh Market in our area, and a widely-anticipated Trader Joes also opened in the neighborhood. But shopping at Publix is just more pleasant. In fact, it’s slogan is, “Where shopping is a pleasure.”
Now I know why, and its why new slogan might become, “where working is a pleasure.” Tampa Bay Times reporter Josh Fialo reported that Publix Super Markets was named the 2nd best large place to work in retail by Fortune’s Best Workplaces. It is not at all a surprise because happy workers create happy customers.
If you are interested in a happier workplace, you might want to know some of the factors that the Publix workers valued at their company. Effective leadership, openness to innovation, being trusted, and having the opportunity to reach their full potential within the company, were at the top.
Publix employees told the surveyors at Fortune that at Publix leaders “…actually care about your life outside of work — your short and long term goals, beliefs, your family, your struggles and successes. We aren’t treated like work robots with one sole purpose, we are treated with great respect and appreciation.”
These hallmarks of a healthy culture can be learned. Leaders who invest in developing personal self-awareness, emotional intelligence and empathy reap great rewards in happy loyal employees and customers.
