What Makes Google Great
Apparently, Isaacson has deemed another company as the greatest innovator around the globe—Google. The story goes :
Isaacson believes Google is more innovative than Apple, and something like this coming from the man who knows the inside story of Apple is quite alarming to Apple fans.
According to the well-known author, Apple must do something really big to win over the innovation-loving fans. CEO Tim Cook has often spoken about “big plans” for 2014 and it is time the company gets in the game to turn things around.
I guess it would be alarming for Apple fans to hear of Isaacson’s opinion, especially after penning such a riveting biography about the late pioneer. And even worse to hear that to catch up with Google, Apple must do some “really big,” which insinuates that the all-things-“i” company is lagging far behind.
This news was really interesting to me. Certainly Google is an innovative company; creations like the self-driving car, Google glasses, Chromecast, and Project Loon certainly back up this claim. But I think that in order for a company to become a true “innovator” it needs to have innovative talent onboard. And what’s the best way to attract this type of talent? Your employer brand.
I think, in essence, this is what makes Google so great. People are attracted to its company brand, both consumers and employees. So, Google promotes an awesome brand; attracts the nation’s best, brightest and diversified talent; that talent turns innovative ideas into innovative products and services; and consumers flock to these products, therefore enhancing Google’s brand and reputation.
It’s brilliant. Google takes the time to invest in its brand, which indirectly invests in employees, productivity and the company’s bottom line. The brand-building effects all trickle down to the rest of the organization.
Now, it would be easy to tell you what your company can do to mirror Google’s actions and success, but it would be pointless. Google is a multi-billion dollar international company with the resources to offer some of the outrageous perks that it currently boasts. Yet, even if your company cannot afford to make a “Google” out of your brand, you can still get an idea of how Google invests in its employer brand, which may show you various ways of enhancing your own (on a much smaller scale, of course).
So, to help, below is a compilation of ways Google invests in it brand, which ultimately is an investment in its employees. And there’s no better way to bring in today’s innovative talent than to show them that your company cares enough about them as employees to take the time to invest in making them better workers.
- The company’s Mountain Valley headquarters is called the Googleplex. It resembles a college campus with more than 20 buildings decorated with pianos, whiteboards, lava lamps and a replica of Spaceship one.
- Employees can eat breakfast, lunch and dinner for free from on-site restaurants providing organic, healthy meals and cuisine from around the world. Google also has snack rooms filled with goodies in most buildings, which are also free to employees.
- Free on-site haircuts, swimming pools, gym, and game rooms with ping pong tables, billiards, foosball and video games.
- For a small fee, employees can take part in Google’s massage program and the company even offers dry cleaning and childcare services.
- In 2007, Google began offering new mothers five months of maternity leave with full pay and full benefits. Mothers have the option to split up the five months however they desire, meaning they can take some time off just before their due date and even later when their child is older.