Summary
In this episode of Highly Adaptive, Jeff Pelliccio and Erin MacKenzie get practical about something most leaders treat as seasonal—but the best companies treat as strategic: recognition. They unpack why gratitude isn’t a random thank-you note, a pizza party, or a gift basket on autopilot. It’s a deliberate, repeatable leadership behavior that drives engagement, improves retention, and strengthens culture in a way your competitors can’t easily copy.
The conversation breaks down what a real culture of gratitude looks like: tying recognition to values, making appreciation specific (the why matters), and building simple systems that make recognition visible without turning it into a checkbox. They also explore the nuance leaders often miss—how to scale recognition without losing authenticity, and why “systems” only work when they preserve the human element.
If you want culture to be more than a poster on the wall, this episode gives you a clear starting point: begin small, make it consistent, and lead from the top—because gratitude might be the fastest path to culture transformation you’ll find.
Specific beats generic – Recognition lands when it’s tied to a real moment and a clear “why.”
Tie gratitude to values – Culture shifts faster when appreciation reinforces the behaviors you want repeated.
Make it visible – Public recognition builds community and reinforces standards across teams.
Top-down starts it – Leaders set the tone; consistency from leadership creates momentum everywhere else.
Systems help—human touch wins – Tools can amplify recognition, but they can’t replace authenticity.
Start small, scale intentionally – Build a phased approach you can sustain, then expand.
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