The evidence is clear that when people feel appreciated and supported at work, the entire business benefits with innovation, performance, and sustainable growth. Inspiring workplaces drive business success.
This is a core pillar of our point of view here at Employera which is why we’re proud to be the headline sponsor for the Inspiring Workplaces Awards. The impressive list of finalists for the awards showcase how companies across industries are creating cultures of trust, purpose, and belonging. These might feel simply like buzzwords but they are important elements of how a people-first strategy creates workplaces where both individual people and the business succeed.
Companies that put people first pull ahead in competitive markets by being more creative, more resilient, and better positioned to drive the outcomes businesses need.
The Connection Between Workplace Culture and Business Performance
Companies with strong workplace cultures see real improvements in:
- Increased productivity and innovation - more new ideas and better problem-solving
- Higher employee retention rates - keeping good people at the company longer
- Better customer experiences - happy customers stay (and spread the word about you)
- Stronger financial performance - better bottom-line results
- Greater adaptability during challenging times - quick adjustments when things get tough or change comes unexpectedly
What an Inspiring Workplace Looks Like
Our friends at Inspiring Workplaces identify six elements in a thriving workplace culture. We’ll unpack each of these elements in future posts, but if you are looking for a smart way to build an organization where people (and the business) thrive, start by focusing here.
- Clear Culture and Purpose - when people understand why their work matters, they bring more energy and commitment. Aligning individual contributions to broader organizational direction helps each person and whole teams see how their daily efforts are meaningful.
- Real Leadership - real leaders (rather than those folks in roles simply exercising authority) build trust and create safety to speak up and participate. They set the tone with their actions, not just words, to model behaviors that inspire and empower their teams. The best companies also develop leadership skills at every level of the org chart.
- Wellbeing - smart companies know that their people can’t do their best work when they are struggling physically or mentally. Employee wellbeing encompasses physical, mental, emotional, financial, and social health. Comprehensive focus on supporting the wellbeing of our teams is now an essential business strategy.
- True Inclusion - beyond politicized hype, it’s clear that inclusive workplaces foster creativity, innovation, and better decision-making. Making sure everyone can contribute, regardless of background, has exponential benefit to business results.
- Listening to Employee Voice - when people feel heard, they’re more likely to share and do more. Listen to your people and they will offer valuable insights, contribute more ideas, and you’ll catch opportunities and risks with effective feedback systems and honest communication. All to build trust and solve problems faster.
- Thoughtful Employee Experience - leading organizations design intentional experiences that reflect their values and meet employees' evolving needs. Every interaction matters—from the hiring process to daily work to career development. Leading organizations design these experiences with care, not by accident.
Don’t Leave These Things to Chance - Start Building a People-First Workplace
Don’t feel daunted. The most important way to start is to choose to not leave these things to chance. We encourage leaders and organizations to always start where you already have strengths. Affirming what is already working well serves as an inspiration for the thoughtful effort and genuine commitment it takes to intentionally create a holistically inspiring workplace.
Trendy perks or one-size-fits-all programs are not necessary. What you need is a strategic approach that’s true to your organization’s unique culture, context, and challenges.
- Start with an honest look at reality. Look at what actually happens in your workplace - what works well and what doesn’t.
- Actually listen. Get real feedback from your team and involve them in creating solutions.
- Help leaders get on board. (We know, some of them might be part of the problem.) But they are also an essential part of the solution. Help them understand why investing in people directly affects business success.
- Take consistent, meaningful action. Don’t get distracted by “quick wins” that only scratch the surface, not the source, of challenges. Make changes that address genuine concerns. Don’t launch big and let it fizzle. Hardwire this work into the core of how you do business.
- Pay attention, learn, adapt, keep going. Treat this as an on-going experiment - not just a singular action or policy drop. Observe how things are going, learn from feedback, make adaptations, and keep going.
- Find your champions. Include the people who were already championing the culture. They see what's working and probably have a clear view of what could use some attention. Activate them as both ambassadors to bring along others and a source of insights into the real experience of working at your organization.
The Future Belongs to Human-Centered Organizations
As we all face nearly-constant economic uncertainty and rapid change, those that truly value their people will have the edge. We’ll unpack that more as we dive deeper into these elements of workplace culture in coming posts.
The companies recognized in this year's Inspiring Workplaces Awards prove that putting people first is both the right thing to do and the smart business move. Congratulations to the UK & Ireland winners, announced on the 15th of May. And to the North America winners announced in June at the IW Gala in Chicago. And we’ll continue to learn from their example to build workplaces where both people and businesses succeed.
Want to Keep the Conversation Going?
We are interested to hear your perspective about the challenges you face in your organization. If you have any questions we will be more than happy to advise.