Most employee recognition programs don’t work the way leaders think they do.

In this episode, Hall of Fame keynote speaker Joe Mull, CSP, CPAE, examines why many common approaches to employee recognition fall short of building real engagement, motivation, and a healthy workplace culture. He explains how well-intentioned systems can unintentionally feel impersonal and why recognition that becomes routine often loses its impact.

Joe reframes what meaningful recognition actually looks like, showing how specific, personal expressions of gratitude from leaders strengthen employee commitment, reinforce purpose, and encourage people to bring more of themselves to their work—without relying on swag, gift cards, or formal reward programs.

If you want to create a culture where people feel seen, valued, and motivated to care and try, this episode offers practical insight into how recognition works when it’s done right.

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#transformativeleadership #workplaceculture #companyculture #talentretention #employeeengagement #employeeretention #bossheroschool #employalty

Joe Mull is on a mission to help leaders and business owners create the conditions where commitment takes root—and the entire workplace thrives.

A dynamic and deeply relatable speaker, Joe combines compelling research, magnetic storytelling, and practical strategies to show exactly how to cultivate loyalty, ignite effort, and build people-first workplaces where both performance and morale flourish. His message is clear: when commitment is activated, engagement rises, teams gel, retention improves, and business outcomes soar.

Joe is the founder of Boss Hero School™ and the creator of the acclaimed Employalty™ framework, a roadmap for creating thriving workplaces in a new era of work. He’s the author of three books, including Employalty, named a top business book of the year by Publisher’s Weekly, and his popular podcast, Boss Better Now, ranks in the top 1% of management shows globally.

A former head of learning and development at one of the largest healthcare systems in the U.S., Joe has spent nearly two decades equipping leaders—from Fortune 500 companies like State Farm, Siemens, and Choice Hotels to hospitals, agencies, and small firms—with the tools to lead better, inspire commitment, and build more humane workplace cultures. His insights have been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Harvard Business Review, and more.

In 2025, Joe was inducted into the Professional Speakers Hall of Fame (CPAE). This is the speaking profession’s highest honor, a distinction granted to less than 1% of professional speakers worldwide. It’s awarded to speakers who demonstrate exceptional talent, integrity, and influence in the speaking profession

For more information visit joemull.com.

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