The document outlines key strategies to empower employees for greater engagement and innovation, highlighting that encouraging idea sharing can lead to increased engagement. Companies like Dreamworks and Airbnb create environments that promote creativity and collaboration, while organizations like Google and Twitter focus on open communication and interaction. It emphasizes the importance of recognition and allowing employees time to pursue passions that align with business goals to foster a culture of great work.

1. According to research by Aon Hewitt, employees who
feel encouraged to share ideas and opinions with
others are 3x more engaged. At DreamWorks Studios,
any employee can write and pitch a movie idea. In fact,
a training course was developed to teach people how
to best pitch their idea, which they’ve now opened the
door for any type of pitch (new business ideas, software,
social media, mobile entrepreneurism).
INVITE IDEATION5
Create work spaces that align to your purpose.
At Airbnb, the mission to ‘create a world that
inspires human connection’ is brought to life.
No one has a desk, and the open spaces are
all specifically designed to inspire creativity,
collaboration, and community.
How do you create an environment where people are empowered to
make a difference? Any one in any role has the capability to do great work—to
connect, question, collaborate and innovate. The key: giving people permission
and the space and time to go above what is expected. We invite you to
consider each of these elements and what you can do as a leader or an
organization to develop great work.
DESIGN WITH PURPOSE1
Talking and sharing ideas with people outside
of your inner circle is a key aspect of doing
great work. Google purposefully sets out cafes
and micro-kitchens to encourage interaction
amongst people whose desks are not near
each other.
ENCOURAGE INTERACTION2
When people feel they can communicate
openly, they’ll be empowered to speak up
and ask questions. At Twitter—a business
centered on communication and openness—
sharing new ideas, debating, and making it
safe to engage in discourse is encouraged.
BE OPEN TO DEBATE3
Difference-makers need time to pause, and ask
the right questions. 3M started the trend followed
by HP and Google, allowing employees to spend
a percentage of their time working on something
they’re passionate about that aligns to the overall
business strategy.
ALLOW FOR THINKING TIME4
In a study conducted by the O.C. Tanner Institute,
employees were asked (without prompting), “What is
the most important thing your manager or company
currently does (or could do) to cause you to produce
great work?” The number-one answer: “Recognize me.”
SUPPORT A
CULTURE OF RECOGNITION
6
Get more great work insights at
DEVELOP GREAT WORK
6 ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS FOR
LEADERS AND ORGANIZATIONS
Ready to create a culture of great work? Incorporate
these elements and encourage your teams to take our
GREAT WORK CHALLENGE.