Interesting Business Psychology Lesson From Disney Theme Parks From The Place You’d Least Expect!
My spouse and I are HUGE Disney fans.
I regularly call myself a nerd and enjoy Star Wars, Marvel, Pixar, and almost everything Disney.
We even go to Disney Theme Parks sometimes on Vacation, as we find ourselves getting ready for later today!
Disney Theme Parks have a reputation for being the “Most Magical Place On Earth”.
So, as someone who is always interested in what Leadership decisions have been made, as I go through the theme park I will actively try to discover the questions and solutions to creating this Magical Place.
Doing this also always allows me to explore new ways of thinking and adds novelty to my life which are different ways to help trigger Flow States!
One of my favorite lessons from Disney though comes from watching the Janitorial Staff, and specifically their uniforms.
Leadership Lesson… From Janitorial Uniforms?
One day, as I was walking through the park, I noticed something.
ALL of the janitorial staff wear white.
Now, as I thought through this Leadership Decision, it at first seemed extremely odd.
If janitors have to clean up the worst messes at Disney (which can be quite gross since it IS a theme park), why would they EVER where white?
White is the easiest color to get dirty!
Once it does get dirty, it is easily noticeable!
Generally, any janitorial positions (as important as their jobs are) end up as a “not seen” position, businesses generally want you to forget they are there.
But white stands out!
You can’t hide anyone wearing white.
If you went with a brown color, or better a black color, you’d be able to prevent any dirtiness from being seen on the uniforms, and the janitorial staff would be able to remain part of a hidden process.
But Disney chose White.
It made me wonder how they could EVER keep those uniforms clean!
That’s When It Hit Me!
As I watched some of the janitorial staff go about their jobs, as I thought about this decision, I also noticed something else.
Even though white IS the easiest color to get dirty NONE of the janitorial staff “looked” dirty.
All of their uniforms looked perfectly white, even as they were cleaning up after (sometimes VERY) messy people.
That’s when it struck me -
They still looked PERFECT even though it’s the EASIEST color to get dirty!
That is the WHOLE point!
It was a purposeful trick of psychology that the leadership had pointedly made.
They WANTED you to notice the janitorial staff.
They WANTED you to see that their uniforms were perfect.
They WANTED you to see how “un-optimal” the white was.
They WANTED you to wonder how they kept the uniform white!
Why?
Because it purposefully and unconsciously makes you think, “Wow! They look so clean!”
Which then reflects that the entire park must be clean!
Even when you know how gross some people are!
This is the GENIUS behind the decisions at Disney.
They think about every TINY detail, even as seemingly small as the color of the janitorial staff’s uniform!
That is why Disney Theme Parks are always considered the most magical of places.
EVERYTHING is intentional, even if it seems like a crazy decision!
That is the level of thinking you need to have to create something Legendary.
