Five things workplaces can do to become a Best Place to Work, according to award-winning Empact Group
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What really makes a workplace stand out? It’s not ping-pong tables or free snacks – it’s values in action.
And it’s something that Canberra company Empact Group knows well. Recently recognised in the Australian Financial Review’s BOSS Best Places to Work 2025 awards – named best in the consulting, small organisation, and overall categories – in just over two years, Empact has grown to a team of about 70 people, all united by a shared purpose: empower to act.
Living by their guiding philosophy that everyone deserves to be able to make the best choices for themselves and the people they care about, they’ve learnt a lot along the way – including that to build a good workplace culture, it’s all about creating a space where people are empowered to do their job in the way that brings the most value to them, with agency, choice and care.
Here are five things Empact Group says any workplace can do to build a values-led, high-impact culture, based on their award-winning “Values in Action” practice centred on Trust, Impact, Curiosity, Courage and Care.
Start with Trust
Trust is the foundation of every great workplace. When leaders trust their teams (and vice versa), people feel empowered to speak up, innovate, and make meaningful decisions. Practical examples include supporting flexible work and providing transparency in decision making.
Focus on Impact, not just activity
Activity can fill time, impact changes lives. Workplaces that centre around purpose-driven impact – for individuals, teams, and our community – build cultures people want to be part of. Ways we can achieve impact could include the type of work companies choose to do, employee led initiatives or mentoring to empower action.
Lead with Curiosity
Curiosity opens doors. By asking questions, listening deeply, and welcoming perspectives that challenge our own, workplaces reduce assumptions and unlock inclusive conversations, better decision-making, and continuous learning. In practice? It’s the difference between “This is how we’ve always done it” and “What if there’s a better way?”. Consider how different perspectives are encouraged, and actively look for opportunities for collaboration to challenge thinking.
Choose Courage over comfort
Progress takes guts. Courageous workplaces challenge outdated norms, make tough calls, and speak up even when it’s uncomfortable. And courage is contagious! Leadership modelling of courage is a great place to start, or consider training people in how to have challenging conversations.
Put People first
Care is more than kindness, it’s a strategic advantage. Whether it’s flexible work, wellbeing check-ins or genuine recognition, care is in the small, everyday moments. When people feel genuinely valued, they show up with more energy, loyalty and creativity. Think about how all people are supported to thrive through office or policy design and look for opportunities for connection-based celebrations and recognition.
The truth? Organisations don’t have to be perfect to be a great place to work but they do need to be intentional. When values lead, workplaces don’t just work—they empower to act.
