It all starts at the top.

Managers make or break workplaces, says Alex Charfen, CEO of the Austin-based Charfen Institute. Talented leaders motivate, are approachable, offer opportunities for advancement and provide routine feedback. Not–so–skilled bosses often micromanage, rule by fear and spend most of the day locked in their offices, unavailable.

"Morale craters because people don't know what's going on, how to make things better, or what their role is," said Charfen, whose company provides business leadership coaching around the globe. "Human beings, by their nature, want to perform. They want to succeed. They want to be recognized."

Executives at many of the businesses highlighted in the American–Statesman's 2011 Top Workplaces of Greater

Companies on Top Workplaces list took different roads to the same destination: Happy workers

By Barry Harrell
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF

Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2011

Some are huge corporations with billions of dollars in assets. Others are small startups. There are software makers and restaurants, insurance companies and cleaning services.

The 85 Central Texas employers highlighted in the American-Statesman's 2011 Top Workplaces of Greater Austin special section don't have a lot in common – except that their employees say they are great places to work.

The Top Workplaces of Greater Austin project involved surveys of 15,731 workers from 143 Austin–area employers.

The surveys were conducted by our partner in this project, WorkplaceDynamics LLP,

The Austin Board of REALTORS® was presented an award recognizing its contribution to the 2000 Coats for Kids effort. Supplying 224 coats, ABoR was among the top three organizations to bring coats to the needy in the Austin community this winter season.

"The role the Austin Board of REALTORS®  played in our effort is greatly appreciated," said leigh Simmons, 2000 Coats for Kids Chair.

Chaired by Leonard Guerrero, of JBGoodwin REALTORS® the ABoR community service committee included Coats for Kids in their community efforts as a means to bring warmth to children during the winter months.

More than 23,000 coats were collected by the Coats for Kids program, making the 2000 effort the most successful effort in the 14 years the program has been in place.