Meaningful Appreciation:
How Leaders Motivate and Retain Teams
Recognition that actually lands, so your best people stay
Most leaders appreciate their people. Most people don't feel it.
ABOUT THIS SESSION
The gap usually isn't effort; it's language. A gift card thrills one employee and means nothing to the person sitting next to them.
Gallup has found that employees who don't feel adequately recognized are twice as likely to say they'll quit in the next year. In this interactive keynote, Jon Colby digs into The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace by Dr. Gary Chapman and Dr. Paul White, and helps leaders discover how each person on their team prefers to be valued.
No big budgets, no extra hours. Just small, specific habits that make people feel seen and want to stay.
Who It's For
People managers, HR and culture teams, healthcare and senior living leaders, school districts, and any organization fighting turnover.
What Your Team Walks Away With
TAKEAWAYS
Learn the five languages of appreciation and identify your own
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Discover how to find out what motivates each person on your team
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Replace generic "great job" praise with recognition that feels personal
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Build appreciation into your week in minutes, not hours
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Strengthen retention, engagement, and peer-to-peer support
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Elizabeth Bendele
Director of Member Services, Florida Municipal Electric Association
"Jon joined our group of electric utility professionals for a luncheon keynote and knocked it out of the park. He was relatable, enrolling, and encouraged (and was met with) strong participation through the session. He shared research and easy-to-implement solutions for making one's workplace a happier, healthier environment."
Questions About This Session
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Dr. Gary Chapman and Dr. Paul White identify five: words of affirmation, quality time, acts of service, tangible gifts, and appropriate physical touch (like a high five or handshake). Each person tends to value one or two most.
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Because most recognition is one-size-fits-all. A public shout-out energizes one person and embarrasses another. Appreciation works when it matches how that person wants to be valued.
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Most of the five languages cost nothing: a specific thank-you, ten minutes of undivided attention, or pitching in on a task. This session focuses on small habits that fit into a busy week.
Pairs Well With
"Yes, and…" Leadership Through Improv
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How Do YOU Think You're Doing?
Turn the review everyone dreads into a conversation that moves people forward
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Build a team where people feel safe to speak up, try things, and get it wrong