Think about the worst possible workplace. Not just bad. Hellishly bad.
What does it look like?
How would people feel? And how productive would they be?
I imagine people who’re bullied, harassed, stressed, overloaded, underequipped, in ill-suited roles, navigating ambiguous and changing priorities, underpaid, in poor physical environments, doing meaningless work, subject to harsh punishment for mistakes and so on.
I picture people sweating – literally and figuratively – in some sort of hell hole conceived in our nightmares.
How productive would people be? Not at all.
How long would they stay? Only as long as they had to.
I think both Old Management and New Management could agree on this much.
So, what would the very best workplace look like?
This is where old and new thinking divide.
Old Management fears that employees – given the chance – would take a workplace that’s expensive to create, caters to the selfish whims of employees, and has something approaching a theme park like experience where no work gets done.
But they’re fundamentally wrong. Because creating the best workplaces isn’t about pampering every employee indulgence with ping pong tables, free lunches or zero accountability.
It’s about treating people with dignity, creating genuine connection and providing meaningful work.
The best workplaces recognise that every employee is a complex human with unique talents, motivations and aspirations. They create an environment that:
- Allows people to play to their strengths
- Provides clear, achievable goals with room for creativity
- Offers genuine opportunities for growth and learning
- Treats mistakes as opportunities, not failures
- Compensates fairly and transparently
- Respects personal boundaries and life outside work
- Creates psychological safety where people can speak up, challenge ideas and feel heard
- Connects individual roles to a broader, purposeful mission
- Holds people kindly accountable to standards of performance and behaviour
It’s about creating an ecosystem where people don’t just show up, but are genuinely engaged and want to contribute. Where work feels less like a transaction and more like a collaborative journey.
The best workplaces understand a fundamental truth: when you invest in people – truly invest, not just with words but with consistent, thoughtful actions – they invest back. Not out of obligation, but out of genuine commitment and shared vision.
This isn’t a utopian fantasy. It’s a pragmatic approach to sustained organisational success.
Start creating a better workplace today.
Small actions, big impact. Leadership isn’t just about the big moments. It’s in the small, everyday actions that build trust, inspire others and create meaningful change. Yet, knowing what to do in the moment isn’t always obvious. Random Acts of Leadership offers a set of cards designed to guide you towards simple, daily leadership activities. Pick a card, take action and watch the impact ripple through your team
Impact Society
Random Acts of Leadership
US$35
New
New. 52 cards to inspire small, daily leadership actions that build trust, boost team engagement and enhance leadership skills.
