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Meet the 2024 Top Inspiring Workplaces Judges: Rachel Miller

IW: We’re delighted to be joined by one of our judges for the Top Inspiring Workplaces 2024: Rachel Miller. Firstly, What does an Inspiring Workplace mean to you?

An inspiring workplace is an organisation people are excited to be part of. It’s a place where employees feel able to show up as themselves, are motivated by the work they’re doing and feel listened to.

IW: You’re a judge for the Top Inspiring Workplaces 2024. What do you hope to see in the entries?

I hope to see some inspirational stories and examples of workplaces who know work is a thing you do, not a place you go. I’d love to see no integrity gap between what companies say and what their people experience. I’m looking forward to discovering some of the hidden stories and success inside organisations.

IW: Following on from that, What are three areas of focus for organizations looking to improve the people experience?

You need to be constantly listening to your employees, keeping your promises and committing to do better.

IW: Leadership plays a huge role in everything we’ve just spoken about. What do you think is the most important quality in a leader?

The most important quality in a leader is trustworthiness. Employees need to believe what they say, see them keep their promises and uphold the trust that is placed in them. You cannot be a great leader without being a great communicator; trustworthiness and excellent communication is a vital combination.

IW: What’s your advice on how best to engage remote teams?

Don’t assume to know how they are working, ask them. Work with remote teams to understand the challenges, opportunities and situations they are facing, then work together to determine how to best engage them. What’s right for one team may not work for others, so make sure you keep the lines of communication open and adjust as needed.

IW: We are a big believer that fostering psychological safety is an organisational imperative. Do you agree and if so, why?

Yes! I couldn’t agree more. You can feel when people do not feel safe to bring their whole selves to work. Organisations who fail to prioritise on how psychologically safe their employees feel miss the chance to help people fulfil their potential. If employees feel they need to hide parts of themselves or be a different version of themselves, it’s hard to feel completely fulfilled at work.

IW: 4-Day week – Yes or No?

Yes it can work well, however, it depends on the type of organisation you are and what the purpose of your organisation is. If you’re serving customers five or seven days a week, it’s unlikely a four-day week will work for you.

IW: There are going be more generations in the workplace than ever before. Each with its own expectations and needs from an employer. How do you try to fulfil all of them?

To say we’ve seen a lot of change in the past three years would be an understatement. We want you to get your crystal ball out and predict what will be the top priorities for people choosing an employer over the next 5 years?

IW: As a leader how do you empower your people and create a sense of belief and belonging within your culture?

I empower my team and share the thinking behind the business and the aspirations and goals. A sense of belief and belonging is personal for team members, it’s how they interpret our strategy and live it through what they do and how they work. I’m striving to be the leader I wish I had. I make choices that put my team at the heart of my decisions, so we can help internal communicators to thrive and benefit their organisations.

A Fun ones to end! Favourite film, best song to get you motivated at work and best place you’ve ever visited: