What makes a workplace truly exceptional? Is it the recognition employees receive—or how meaningful that recognition really is? How can leaders inspire trust, foster strong team dynamics, and bridge the generational gap? And when those awkward moments inevitably pop up—how do you handle them with finesse and empathy?

In this episode of Workplace Weirdness, host Maya Kadar Kovalsky is joined by the ever-inspiring David Homan—a CEO, composer, and superconnector. David's impact advisory firm orchestrates connections between startups, funds, and nonprofits, building relationships that scale and drive growth across industries. Together, Maya and David explore the importance of recognition in Gen Z’s work life, offering fresh insights on balancing meaningful appreciation with the pressures of workplace expectations.

But that's not all. They dive into the tricky terrain of managing a jealous boss, and yes, they even tackle the not-so-pleasant subject of how to lead a conversation about an awkward office smell—because let’s face it, these moments happen.

Tune in for a conversation packed with wisdom on leadership, recognition, and navigating those everyday workplace oddities. 

Key Takeaways

In This Episode:

Notable Quotes

• [00:19:18] "Maybe they weren't recognized and praised as much, they had to develop their own self-praise or their own systems in order to handle not being praised or being criticized." — Maya Kadar Kovalsky

• [00:21:32] "Leaders should embody the skills that are necessary, like curiosity, empathy, generosity, and gratitude." — David Homan

• [00:22:30] "If you need something to justify yourself, what is it feeding? It's feeding an emptiness, which means that you have self-work to do." — David Homan

• [00:23:45] "How dare I ever assume that what I am feeling is more important than what somebody else is going through?" — David Homan

• [00:32:51] "I led an organization for years where very few people I worked with ever asked how I was." — David Homan

• [00:47:19] "There’s a way to say things in a way that hopefully is not demeaning, like talking heart to heart and just telling you that you’re going to do better with everybody on this team if they feel comfortable around you." — Maya Kadar Kovalsky

• [00:49:19] "If you’re not diminishing the person, you’re commenting on the situation. Eventually, if they have any maturity, they will handle it and move on from it." — David Homan

Resources and Links

David Homan

Maya Kadar Kovalsky

Workplace Weirdness