Making a Workplace Great

November 2025

What are the top three things that make a workplace great? And, as a boss, what can you do to deliver them?

This was the exam question set for a small group of business leaders by Michael Taylor at a BusinessDesk.com roundtable. As with any exam, we had a strict time limit - in this case 90 minutes - to make our case.

Here's where we ended up - I'd love to hear other opinions too by the way.

1. Visible and accountable leadership. Be present, show up. Be you.
2. Communicate. Always. And then communicate some more.
3. Mistakes will be made. Learn, don't punish.
4. One size does not fit all. Understand people as individuals.
5. Track data. Use it to reward, teach, steer, and make decisions.
6. People will always work better when it's fun and there's laughter.

Yes, I know this is more than three but.....

Our group was from all walks for business - recruitment, healthcare, technology, sport, professional services - but the principles of leadership and building a culture are universal.

Thanks to Verlingue UK for hosting us at No1. St Michael's in Manchester, and in particular to the lively debate with my fellow 'examinees' including Robert Marshall, Stefan Leone, Oshin Cassidy, Louise Rogers, Steve Mulcahy, Patrick Crookes CTA, Phil Wedgwood, 🎯Jayesh Patel, Helen Hill, Simon 'Si' Brownbill, Paula Castle, Hayley Telfer-Heelbeck CIPD, Caroline Grant and Ruby Melling.