Appreciation at Work Podcast

Most leaders want their people to feel valued. But somewhere between the pizza parties and the "Employee of the Month" plaques, something gets lost, and the best people quietly start looking for the door. The Appreciation at Work® Podcast is for leaders who are done guessing and ready to get it right. Each week, we bring you honest conversations, real research, and practical tools built on the framework trusted by over 480,000 professionals across 60 countries: The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace . You'll learn how to move beyond generic recognition and communicate appreciation in the way each person on your team actually receives it. Because there's a difference between recognizing performance and appreciating a person. And that difference changes everything. Subscribe and start building a workplace your team refuses to leave.

Appreciation at Work Podcast is a business podcast hosted by Dr. William Attaway, with 14 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Dr. William Attaway hosts Appreciation at Work Podcast, a business show with 14 episodes published.

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  Episode #13

  4 People Who Shape Your Team Culture (with JC Hite)

  Sep 7, 202620 minS1

  You don't need a payroll to build a team culture. You just think you do. In this episode, I sit down with JC Hite, a partner here at Appreciation at Work and the owner of Hite Digital, to talk about hiring, leading teams, and what it actually takes to build team culture before you can afford to pay anyone. JC walks through the four team members every small business owner already has, starting with yourself. If you hired someone who worked the way you work, would you give them a raise? That question alone will change how you lead. We also get into why 89% of people will accept less money for the right culture, and JC's simple "video of awesomeness" trick for spotting who's really willing to go the extra mile before you ever make an offer. If you're leading a small or remote team and wondering how to show real appreciation without a big budget, this one is for you. CHAPTER BREAKDOWN 00:01 – Welcome & Meet JC Hite 00:22 – Setting Up Today's Conversation: Hiring, Teams, and Appreciation 03:04 – You Have a Bigger Team Than You Think 04:26 – Team Member #1: You Are the Hardest Person You'll Ever Lead 07:51 – Team Member #2: Why Your Spouse Belongs on the Team 13:12 – Team Member #3: Choosing the Mentors Who Shape Your Culture 15:39 – How to Ask for a Mentor (Even When You're Broke) 17:26 – You Have Agency: Choose It and Be Intentional 18:36 – Team Member #4: Hiring Your First Employees Without Fear 20:23 – The Real Data on Why People Leave 21:52 – The "Video of Awesomeness": JC's Hiring Filter 24:54 – Closing Thoughts & Where to Learn More BOOKS MENTIONED - The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman - The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace by Gary Chapman, Paul White (new edition with William Attaway and JC Hite coming out in October, 2026) Interested in more training like this, where you can earn SHRM and HRCI continuing education credit? Check out the Appreciation at Work® HR Professional Membership at https://hr.joinaaw.com/ .

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  Episode #12

  The Four Missing Links to a True Culture of Appreciation (with Jim Uhl)

  Aug 17, 202624 minS1

  Jim Uhl spent almost 30 years as a police officer before he became a leadership researcher, a Gallup-certified strengths coach, and the Chief Engagement Officer of Breaking the Chain Consulting. Jim and I talk about the four missing links he sees holding organizations back: purpose and values, strengths, a culture of appreciation, and forgiveness. We get into why so many leaders build their culture by accident instead of on purpose, and why that gap is costing them their best people. Jim walks through how he helped one client welcome four new hires on day one using each of the five languages of appreciation, and why none of them have any intention of leaving. We also talk about what trust is really built on, why AI can never replace it, and why intentional appreciation has to come from your own strengths to feel authentic instead of forced. If you've wondered whether appreciation actually drives retention, this episode settles it. BOOKS MENTIONED: - Audacious: Forgiveness in the Workplace by Jim Uhl - Stop Being Nice by Jim Uhl - The Arch by Jim Uhl If this conversation stirred something in you, go find Jim at breakingthechainconsulting.com, or learn more about his new book at audacious-book.com. You can reach him directly at juhl@breakingthechainconsulting.com, or follow him on Instagram @breakingthechain73 and on LinkedIn under his own name, Jim Uhl. Interested in more training like this, where you can earn SHRM and HRCI continuing education credit? Check out the Appreciation at Work® HR Professional Membership at https://hr.joinaaw.com/ .

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  Episode #11

  The 5 Languages of Appreciation: A Marathon, Not a Sprint (with Dr. David Knapp)

  Aug 3, 202618 minS1

  If you've ever wondered why the way you say thank you doesn't always land the way you intend, this episode is for you. I sat down with Dr. David Knapp, president of Marathon Leadership in Thornton, Colorado, and author of the 2024 book Marathon Leadership: 26.2 Essential Lessons for Leaders, to talk about what happens when leaders finally understand the 5 languages of appreciation. David has trained everyone from Silicon Valley startups to Fortune 100 companies to county public works crews in Colorado, and he shares two stories that show exactly what changes when people feel appreciated the way they actually want to be. We also talk about why leadership is a marathon and not a sprint, how to stay authentic while being intentional about appreciation, and the two biggest challenges leaders face when they try to put the 5 languages of appreciation into practice: hybrid work and generational differences. If you lead people and want them to feel it, not just hear it, you'll want every minute of this one. ⏱ CHAPTER BREAKDOWN 00:22 – Meet Dr. David Knapp, President of Marathon Leadership 01:56 – From corporate HR to full-time leadership consulting 03:03 – How the 5 languages of appreciation found him 03:52 – The moment it clicked: not everyone wants appreciation the same way 04:36 – David's own appreciation language: words of affirmation 06:01 – Why it's called Marathon Leadership 07:37 – Two stories that prove appreciation drives real engagement 11:19 – Balancing authenticity with intentionality 12:43 – The two biggest challenges: hybrid work and generational gaps 15:40 – One practical step you can take this week 17:15 – Connect with Dr. David Knapp BOOKS MENTIONED - Marathon Leadership: 26.2 Essential Lessons for Leaders by David D. Knapp, Ph.D. Reach out to David through the contact button at marathonleadership.com , or email him directly at david@marathonleadership.com . Interested in more training like this, where you can earn SHRM and HRCI continuing education credit? Check out the Appreciation at Work® HR Professional Membership at https://hr.joinaaw.com/ .

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  Episode #10

  Recognition vs Appreciation: Why Your Star Employee Might Quit (with JC Hite)

  Jul 20, 202622 minS1

  What if your top performer is quietly doing the math on when to leave, even while you're celebrating her as Employee of the Year? This week I sit down with JC Hite, co-owner of Appreciation at Work, fresh off a workshop with one of the fastest-growing therapy clinics in Arkansas. JC breaks down the framework that compounds appreciation — knowing, appreciating, and serving — and tells the story of an award-winning employee who nearly quit because her company confused recognition vs appreciation. We dig into the six-week rule for staying connected to your team, the five levels of service that separate forgettable interactions from unforgettable ones, and the Gallup data behind it all: 23% higher profitability, 78% lower absenteeism, and 70% more employees who say they're genuinely thriving. If you've ever wondered whether your culture efforts are actually landing, this conversation will change how you look at every touchpoint with your team. Interested in more training like this, where you can earn SHRM and HRCI continuing education credit? Check out the Appreciation at Work® HR Professional Membership at https://hr.joinaaw.com/ .

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  Episode #9

  Recognition vs Appreciation: Why Your Top Performers Still Feel Overlooked (with Jasmine Liew)

  Jul 13, 202619 minS1

  You can't promote everyone, and the budget for bonuses only stretches so far, so what do you do for the people who are doing great work but won't see it reflected in a raise? That's the exact tension Jasmine Liew, founder of Breakthrough Catalyst and Singapore's premier partner for the Five Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace, walked into years ago as an HR leader reading engagement survey results. What she found reshaped how she leads: recognition vs appreciation isn't a semantic debate; recognition is tied to results, but appreciation is something you can offer every single person, every single day, regardless of KPIs. In this conversation, Jasmine unpacks how the MBA Inventory takes the guesswork out of appreciation, why her own go-to language backfired with her team, and how psychological safety and words of affirmation are helping multigenerational teams push through AI adoption anxiety without feeling judged. If you've ever felt like you're doing everything right and your team still doesn't feel valued, this episode is your reset. Connect with Jasmine via LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasmine-liew-psychsafety/ or by email at jasmine@breakthroughcatalyst.org . Her website is breakthroughcatalyst.org . Interested in more training like this, where you can earn SHRM and HRCI continuing education credit? Check out the Appreciation at Work® HR Professional Membership at https://hr.joinaaw.com/ .

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