Shaping a human workplace isn't rocket science... it's people science!
5
8
0
At school, I loved science experiments. Whether it was growing crystals in salty water or testing how plants react to light, I learned one thing fast: the right conditions are everything. In psychology, the same principle holds true—studies show that behaviour isn’t entirely random but a response to the environment and cues around.
In short, if you want people to thrive and grow, you can’t just hope for the best. You need to purposefully design the conditions for healthy and sustainable growth.
For leaders and managers, building a human workplace is not about adding beanbags and pizza Fridays. It’s about creating and sustaining the foundations human beings need to feel safe, valued, and inspired—to feel energised and able to bring their best.
When I wrote Make It Human, I examined the good, the bad and the ugly in workplace culture and identified 5 elements that help create the conditions for thriving workplaces:
1. Workplace – Create the Conditions for People to Thrive
From Maslow’s hierarchy of needs to modern workplace studies, feeling safe and supported is the bedrock for performance. Space, equipment, flexibility, fairness, and integrity all matter.
Atlassian, the software company, prioritises both physical and psychological safety. They redesigned workspaces for flexibility, collaboration, and deep focus—while also embedding "Team Playbooks" that guide teams to work healthily and sustainably.
💡 Top Tip: Regularly review the basics: What does your workspace say? Are flexible options genuinely flexible? Do people feel treated fairly?
“When people are financially invested, they want a return. When people are emotionally invested, they want to contribute.” – Simon Sinek
2. Accountability – Share Clear Expectations and Purpose
Clarity builds confidence. Research shows that when people know what's expected, stress levels decrease, and motivation increases.
HubSpot is known for its radical transparency. Their internal "Culture Code" clearly defines what’s expected from employees and leadership. It openly shares company values, behaviour standards, and performance principles, removing ambiguity and creating shared accountability across the organisation.
💡 Top Tip: Create shared team agreements about goals and behaviours. Discuss what good looks like and what it doesn't. Make it easy (and safe) for people to flag concerns early.
“Clarity is kindness.” – Brené Brown
From: HubSpot's Culture Code
3. Community – Nurture Belonging and Collaboration
Humans are wired for connection. Studies highlight that a sense of belonging boosts performance and engagement.
Salesforce is a champion of nurturing belonging. Their "Ohana Culture"—meaning 'family' in Hawaiian—focuses on inclusion, respect, and shared success. Employees are involved in charitable giving, volunteering, and supporting one another, all helping fuel collaboration and pride across teams.
💡 Top Tip: Celebrate wins as a team, recognising all contributions. Create opportunities for people to share ideas, feedback, and personal stories, fostering trust and connection.
4. Empowerment – Trust People to Do the Right Thing
Empowered people are energised people. Neuroscience shows that autonomy fuels motivation.
Every Ritz-Carlton employee, regardless of role, is empowered to spend up to $2,000 to resolve a guest issue without needing manager approval. This trust signals profound belief in employees’ judgment, boosting both customer satisfaction and internal pride.
💡 Top Tip: Give people ownership of their work. Involve people in decisions that impact their work. Ask: What would you recommend?
“It doesn't make sense to hire smart people and then tell them what to do.” – Steve Jobs
5. Growth – Inspire and Support Daily Development
Growth isn’t just about promotions—it’s about feeling challenged and supported every day. Studies link continuous learning to higher engagement and resilience.
Under Satya Nadella’s leadership, Microsoft shifted from a "know-it-all" to a "learn-it-all" culture. Growth mindset was embedded at every level, with coaching conversations replacing rigid performance reviews. This has been linked to Microsoft’s massive turnaround in innovation, financial performance, and employee engagement.
💡 Top Tip: Offer micro-learning moments. Encourage mentoring, shadowing, and personal development as everyday activities, not just annual events.
“Your job is not to be the smartest in the room. Your job is to make everyone else smarter.” – Satya Nadella
Building a workplace where people thrive isn’t rocket science. It’s people science.
Are you nurturing conditions for growth?
Creating a human workplace means shaping the right conditions for people to thrive: physically, emotionally, and intellectually. These aren’t “nice-to-haves” — they’re essentials.
Curious how your organisation stacks up?
Take our Growth Culture Scorecard — a quick, insightful assessment that highlights your strengths and areas for improvement. In just two minutes, you'll receive a tailored feedback report with actionable steps to enhance your workplace culture.
With the right conditions—safety, clarity, belonging, trust, and growth—you can create a workplace that fuels happy, thriving people and a growing business.
Start shaping a more human workplace today.
--
🌟 To access an online library of tools, insights and practical guides to help you shape thriving workplace cultures join the Make It Human Club for free today.
