Key Takeaways:
- A great workplace isn’t defined by perks or slogans — it’s defined by employees’ day-to-day experience of trust, inclusion, pride, and confidence.
- Applied improvisation develops collaboration, presence, and adaptability through experiential learning.
- As trust increases, the first business outcomes that typically improve are productivity and customer service — then momentum builds into broader performance gains.
- Clear, consistent communication is a major trust accelerator (“clear is kind”) because it removes uncertainty and prevents negative assumptions.
- The fastest “low-hanging fruit” is listening with follow-through: ask for feedback, listen, and close the loop with “here’s what we heard + what we’re doing (or not doing) and why.”
- In a world of rapid change (e.g., AI transformation), trust becomes the best antidote to uncertainty and is key to sustaining agility.
This session introduces the “Great Place to Work effect,” explaining how organizations consistently outperform when they intentionally build high-trust cultures. Hosted by Melanie (Great Place to Work) and featuring Allison Graney, Head of Culture and Research at Great Place to Work, the discussion reframes workplace culture as the lived employee experience — not branding or benefits. They outline how leaders shape trust through specific behaviours like listening, communicating openly, developing people, recognizing effort, and demonstrating care, which then drives culture outcomes like pride, camaraderie, belonging, and wellbeing. The speakers share practical guidance for building trust quickly—especially through strong listening strategies and closing the feedback loop—and emphasize that trust is critical for resilience in downturns and for navigating constant change.
