This December, employment search engine Indeed and job-hunting service Glassdoor released their respective lists of top places to work. Indeed’s list identified the top workplace cultures of 2018, while Glassdoor noted the 10 best places to work in 2019.
In Indeed’s 15 top-rated workplaces with the best culture, Keller Williams Realty landed the No. 1 spot. Glassdoor ranked the 10 best places to work in 2019, and management consulting company Bain & Co. came out on top.
These two lists had one thing in common: In-N-Out Burger and Southwest Airlines.
The fast food restaurant In-N-Out Burger was ranked second by Indeed and third by Glassdoor. It received great feedback from both sites for sticking to the same plan and resisting any new trends in the fast food industry. Its simple menu and tasty food have attracted both celebrities and burger fans alike for a long time.
Southwest Airlines was ranked No. 10 on both sites. On Glassdoor, Southwest Airlines’ mission of being dedicated to the highest quality of customer service and company spirit gave them a 4.4/5 rating.
Novartis Professor of Leadership and Management at the Harvard Business School and and author of The Fearless Organization, Amy C. Edmondson, believes In-N-Out Burger and Southwest Airlines cracked both lists because they are places that would qualify as “psychologically safe” workplaces.
“[In a psychologically safe workplace,] people feel their voice is valued,” Edmondson said. “At Southwest, they’re incredibly collaborative and engaged in getting planes turned around quickly and safely. Southwest is a terrific example of a culture that has worked hard to ensure its employees know that their voices are valued and welcome.”
Edmondson has three tips for offices to overcome intrapersonal fear and create psychological safety. These tips allow for more people to speak up, ask for help and address what isn’t working in the office. It gives everyone a healthy mindset while on the clock.
Also read: Ranking the World’s Top Companies for HR, 2018
First, constantly remind people of what they’re up against, Edmondson said. “What are the challenges, what is the nature of the work an office does, [and] what is world of which we now live in?”
She suggests asking respectful questions to people about their work, then taking a moment to think before reacting to any bad news.
Edmondson said that having psychological safety in the workplace has other positive results as well.
“It leads to the work feeling meaningful, believing what you do has an impact, believing that your colleagues are dependable and having some structure and clarity about tasks,” Edmondson said. “Psychological safety is the underpinning factor to other aspects of a healthy workplace.”
How interesting!! Looking at the list from Indeed, I thought I was going to find the usual list (i.e.: Google, Facebook, Netflix, etc.) What a surprise to see companies such as Keller Williams Realty and In-and-Out Burger to be on top of the list. Very interesting. Thank you for sharing this information.