What happens when you prioritize team chemistry over individual talent? How do you create a work culture where people feel safe enough to bring their authentic selves every single day? What's the difference between recognizing performance and appreciating the person? Transform your leadership approach and discover why vulnerability might be your greatest competitive advantage on this episode of the Work Positive Podcast with Dr. Joey Faucette and Mike Robbins. Mike brings over 25 years of experience helping world-class organizations like Google, Microsoft, and the NBA build high-performing teams rooted in trust, authenticity, and genuine connection. Listen as Mike explores:

☀️ Why caring about each other and the work creates the foundation for team success

☀️ How vulnerability in difficult conversations builds trust faster than perfection

☀️ The critical distinction between recognition (performance) and appreciation (people)

☀️ Why team chemistry often matters more than individual talent on high-performing teams

☀️ Simple ways to communicate authentic culture that attracts top talent naturally

Mike transforms how leaders think about team building by proving that when people feel valued as humans first, performance excellence follows naturally.

🔑 Key Insight: "There's a difference between recognition which is about performance and appreciation which is really about people. We can value and appreciate people all the time irrespective of performance. Letting people know that they're valued, they're seen, they're heard, they're cared about—that goes a long way."

💡 Your DOT (Do One Thing): Appreciate someone on your team today. Not for what they accomplished, but for who they are. Let them know they're valued, seen, heard, and cared about as a person.

Connect with Mike Robbins:

Visit mike-robbins.com for articles, Ted Talks, and resources

Listen to the "We're All In This Together" podcast wherever you find podcasts

Get Mike's bestselling books: "We're All In This Together" and "Bring Your Whole Self to Work" https://amzn.to/43yFixW https://amzn.to/4r4Dery

Watch Mike's 3 TedX talks with nearly 2.5 million views https://youtu.be/bd2WKQWG_Dg?si=W4TgCiW554CKcRdt

#BringYourWholeself #TeamChemistry #Authenticity #Leadership #Appreciation #WorkCulture #Vulnerability #WorkPositive

🎙️ Love the Work Positive Podcast? Please leave a review on iTunes to help others discover how to grow people and profits with a positive work culture!

🔗 Stay connected with Dr. Joey Faucette:

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@workpositive7529
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjoeyfaucette/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WorkPositiveToday/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/workpositive.today/

📧 Know someone who'd make a great guest on the show? Email analiza@getpositive.today with your recommendation!

How are you recognizing the people on your team—based on what YOU think they need, or what THEY actually want? What if the recognition you're giving is missing the mark entirely because you never asked? Transform your approach to appreciation and watch retention soar on this episode of the Work Positive Podcast with Dr. Joey Faucette and Dr. Meghan Waldron. Dr. Meghan brings her unique perspective from straddling K-12 education, higher education, and small business ownership to reveal why intentional recognition matters more than you think. Listen as Dr. Meghan explores:

☀️ Why relationships are the foundation of whether people stay or leave your organization ☀️ The hidden burnout epidemic facing educators and helping professionals today ☀️ How technology overload creates compassion fatigue even in passion-driven roles ☀️ The transformative power of asking people how they want to be recognized ☀️ Simple ways to differentiate appreciation just like great teachers differentiate learning

Dr. Meghan transforms how leaders think about employee recognition by proving that customized appreciation creates cultures where people truly belong and want to stay.

🔑 Key Insight: "I think it's really important to ask intentionally how people want to be recognized. A lot of times we think people want monetary recognition, more contracts, more responsibility. But their answers were things like: 'I just want a text to say that I'm doing a good job' or 'Can you just let me know that I'm on track.'"

💡 Your DOT (Do One Thing): Ask each person on your team this week: "How do you prefer to be recognized for your contributions?" Then honor their answer. Stop assuming one-size-fits-all appreciation works.

Connect with Dr. Meghan Waldron:

• Visit Smart Solutions VA at smartsolutionsva.com
• Connect with Dr. Meghan on LinkedIn
• Discover educational resources and insights on personalized learning

#Recognition #EmployeeAppreciation #WorkCulture #TeacherBurnout #Belonging #EducationLeadership #WorkPositive

🎙️ Love the Work Positive Podcast? Please leave a review on iTunes to help others discover how to grow people and profits with a positive work culture!

🔗 Stay connected with Dr. Joey Faucette:

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@workpositive7529
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjoeyfaucette/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WorkPositiveToday/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/workpositive.today/

📧 Know someone who'd make a great guest on the show? Email analiza@getpositive.today with your recommendation!

How do you transform positivity from wishful thinking into a disciplined practice that carries you through losing two homes to hurricanes, two job layoffs, and still choose to move forward with resilience and joy?

Discover the actionable frameworks that turn positivity into momentum on this episode of the Work Positive Podcast with Dr. Joey Faucette. Sara Schaeffer, founder of Practice Your Positive and creator of Team Positive, reveals how authenticity cuts through defensive bubbles and energy management becomes the real currency of effective leadership. Listen as Dr. Joey and Sara explore:

☀️ Why practicing positivity before you need it creates resilience during storms ☀️ How gamifying human connection breaks isolation and builds community ☀️ Simple ways authenticity creates psychological safety that transforms teams ☀️ Why admitting weakness as a leader actually brings strength and trust ☀️ How checking in on team energy reveals what people need to move forward

Sara transforms how leaders approach culture by proving that when you train positivity like athletes train performance through daily disciplines and small wins, you create capacity to handle whatever comes your way while choosing growth over darkness.

🔑 Key Insight: "Positivity is more about the capacity to handle what comes your way and still choose to move forward. It's not rose-colored glasses—it's resilience. I didn't make that choice one time; it's a choice I make again and again and again every morning."

💡 Your DOT (Do One Thing): Start your next meeting by asking each team member: "On a scale of 1-10, where's your energy today?" Then ask: "What would move you up one point?" Listen to what they need, and when possible, give it to them. This creates space for people to be realistic about where they are.

Connect with Sara Schaeffer:

• Visit: PracticeYourPositive.com for speaking and workshops
• Watch: Practice Your Positive Daily on YouTube (two 10-minute episodes weekly)
• Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarasassschaeffer/
• Learn about Team Positive: gamified frameworks for building resilience

#PracticeYourPositive #TeamPositive #ResilienceTraining #WorkPositive #AuthenticLeadership #EnergyManagement

🎙️ Love the Work Positive Podcast? Please leave a review on iTunes to help others discover how to grow people and profits with a positive work culture!

🔗 Stay connected with Dr. Joey Faucette:

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@workpositive7529
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjoeyfaucette/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WorkPositiveToday/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/workpositive.today/

📧 Know someone who'd make a great guest on the show? Email analiza@getpositive.today with your recommendation!