271: Boost Performance and Retention with Employee Recognition

When was the last time you felt truly recognised at work?

In this solo episode of the Happier at Work podcast, host Aoife O’Brien dives deep into the essential topic of recognition in the workplace. Aoife explores why recognition often falls to the bottom of the priority list and how transformative it can be when made a regular part of team culture. She explains why recognition doesn’t need to take extra time, effort, or money, and highlights the huge impact it has on engagement, motivation, and retention. 

Aoife also emphasises how powerful recognition can be, and how it can make sure you feel seen, heard, valued and understood at work.

In This Episode, You’ll Discover:

• Why recognition matters: Its proven impact on engagement, retention, and individual motivation.
• Common pitfalls: Why recognition tends to be sporadic, generic, or biased, and how to do better.
• The power of specificity: How to move beyond “good job” and give meaningful, actionable praise.
• How to link recognition to the impact it will have on the workplace culture and happiness.

Related Topics Covered:

Motivation at Work, Employee Bias, Wellbeing at Work

 Connect with Aoife O’Brien | Host of Happier at Work®:

• Website 
• LinkedIn 
• YouTube 

Related Episodes You’ll Love:

Episode 260: How to Make Work Meaningful with Zach Mercurio

About Happier at Work®

Happier at Work® is the podcast for business leaders who want to create meaningful, human-centric workplaces. Hosted by Aoife O’Brien, the show explores leadership, career clarity, imposter syndrome, workplace culture, and employee engagement — helping you and your team thrive.

If you enjoy podcasts like WorkLife with Adam Grant, The Happiness Lab, or Squiggly Careers, you’ll love Happier at Work®.

Website: https://happieratwork.ie LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aoifemobrien/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HappierAtWorkHQ

Mentioned in this episode:

Imposter Identity

Imposter Identity