Each day on Southwest is different, both for clients and for its employees, but it is always fun, interesting and makes you wait for the next day, for the next flying experience at the board of Southwest. The colored and crazy presence of the Leperchauns among the cabin crew members (“Leperchauns on a Plane”, youtube.com), or the flight attendant’s song (“Southwest Airlines Flight Attendant Song”, youtube.com) and personal communication with the customers represent the added value attributes of the company.
Moreover, the flight attendant’s song clearly speaks about Southwest competitive advantages among other airlines. The employees are respected and they are encouraged to communicate among themselves within every hierarchical level, to remember that in the end they are a community and they are all equal. “Employees appreciate employees” is the main principle in the company’s organizational culture. They respect and help each other and show their appreciation for their work. Team building activities, thanking the flight attendants while the other employees clean the plane and serve them, for Southwest employees everything is a reason of spending quality time together, while responsibly managing their tasks (Southwest Airlines "A Day in the Life of Culture Committee", youtube.com).
Southwest employees maintain their motivation and their fresh spirit as a result of the shared respect. This is probably the strongest motivation companies need for satisfying their employees. Moreover, the workers are empowered with great responsibilities, which they make look very easy. However, while joking, singing, dancing in the airplane to entertain the customers, the crew is always on guard, as they are responsible for people’s lives.
Nevertheless, a relaxed and fun working environment, a great team, with enhanced collegiality spirit, equal treatment, mutual respect and support, these are the potential sources of intrinsic motivation for the Southwest employees.
References
Leprechauns on a plane, (n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7PFYIAup5I.
Southwest Airlines "A Day in the Life of Culture Committee" (n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7P0T9IbYKU.
Southwest Airlines Flight Attendant Song (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jy0Yf1CAsuQ
