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Meet the 2024 Top Inspiring Workplaces Judges: Gregory F Simpson

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

An inspiring workplace fosters creativity, innovation, and personal growth for its employees. It encourages collaboration, open communication, and provides opportunities for learning, development, and growth. An inspiring workplace also promotes work-life balance and prioritizes the well-being of its employees. Ultimately, an inspiring workplace makes employees feel valued, encouraged, and rewarded for their contribution to the organization.

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

As a judge, I will be looking for entries that demonstrate a strong commitment to creating an environment that inspires and empowers employees to do their best work and be their best selves: positive workplace culture, opportunities for growth and development, a focus on employee well-being and work-life balance, and a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. I will also look for examples of how the organization has gone above and beyond to create a workplace that truly inspires and supports its employees, as well as data or other evidence that demonstrates the impact of these efforts on employee engagement, productivity, and overall organizational success.

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

There are many areas on which organizations can focus to improve the people experience. Three key areas are:

The employee-manager relationship
Recognition and rewards
Learning and development opportunities

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?

Empathy is a crucial quality for effective leadership. Empathy allows leaders to understand and connect with the needs, emotions, and perspectives of their team members, which can help build trust, foster open communication, and create a positive workplace culture.

IW: What’s the best advice you were ever given? Who was it from?

“Watch the pennies and the dollars will take care of themselves.” – Benjamin Franklin

My paternal grandparents, who suffered through the Great Depression in their teens, drilled this saying into my head. While they used it to refer to money, I’ve applied it more broadly to make sure that I focus on and enjoy the small things in life because they are the basis of the achievements you make.

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

To engage remote team members…

Establish regular communication channels and protocols, such as regular check-ins, virtual meetings, and messaging platforms, to ensure that everyone stays connected and informed.
Clearly communicate expectations around roles, responsibilities, and goals to help them understand what is expected of them and how they contribute to the organization’s success.
Encourage them to connect and socialize through virtual team building activities, shared interest groups, or other means to help build a sense of community and camaraderie.
Offer opportunities for them to learn, develop, and apply new skills.
Acknowledge and celebrate their accomplishments and milestones in meaningful ways.

IW: 4-Day week – Yes or No?

No. We need to change the conversation from time spent on or at work to one where the focus is on the outcomes of the work we do. Better work often means less work over less hours.

IW: There will 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?

Treat each person as an individual. There is no one-size-fits-all solution. I would argue that these generations have more in common than is thought. Regardless of generation, people want open communication and feedback, learning and development opportunities, recognition for their contributions, and to be part of a community and shared purpose.

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

Favourite film: Wall-E (or anything from Disney/Pixar)
Favourite Album: ‘A Higher State Of…’ Euphoria – Level 3 mixed by PF Project (1999) – CD 1 specifically (https://youtu.be/MoubyAQ5tPw)
Best song to get you motivated at work: Ripple (Cut Song) – Spirited (Soundtrack from the Apple Original Film)
Best place you have ever visited: While I’ve been fortunate to be able to travel many places in the world, I always look forward to my trips to the Walt Disney World Resort (Florida)
Your biggest inspiration: Walter Elias Disney (1901-1966) and The Walt Disney Company. While Walt could have done a better job of providing feedback and recognition to his team, he brought education and entertainment together to engage everyone without talking down to any segment or group. Since his passing, the Company has continued to push boundaries and inspire new generations of fans.