Leadership. The key to a great workplace.

I spend my work days helping clients make career progress. In this role, I hear horror stories about subpar working environments. After a while, a person might start to wonder if there are any pleasant places to work. But I gained a new perspective as part of a market research project I’m completing. After interviewing three leaders of local organizations, all with stellar reputations as employers, I’m feeling more optimistic.

First was my conversation with City Manager Darin Atteberry, who heads more than 2,000 employees and is responsible for the overall operations of our fair municipality. Summed up, his mindset regarding team members is, “Create a place where they want to be.” He treats talent as a strategic asset, and his aims are to attract the brightest and best, support them with a culture of compassion and safety, and when it’s time for employees to on, facilitate that transition respectfully also. The result: a team who executes community support tasks with enthusiasm and care.

Next I spoke with Henry Mouton, Chief Operating Officer of Motherlove Herbal. His team of 20+ manufactures and distributes supplements for pregnancy, birth, babies and breastfeeding. “Our goal is to create an environment that enhances people’s lives, by providing the tools and support they need to get there,” he informed me. The organization has even gone as far as completing an exhaustive process to be certified as a B Corporation, meeting rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. As part of this effort, Motherlove must demonstrate systems that support the career health of their employees.

And finally I interviewed Kevin Brinkman, CEO of Brinkman, a construction and real estate services business. Also a B Corporation, as well as being employee owned, Brinkman’s goal for its team is to help them find and thrive in their sweet spot, to support rather than manage, and to even celebrate failures as a way to mentor and encourage risk taking.

So when it comes to being an employee, there are healthy, pleasant workplaces out there. The hook seems to be finding one with the right leadership.