Engaged By Design

MACRO Leadership - Ovation: The Power of Recognition in Leadership

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Episode 7 

MACRO Leadership: Leading Agile Change and Innovation in Higher Education
Chapter 7 - Ovation

In the final episode of the MACRO Leadership podcast series, Vernon and Michael explore the “O” in MACRO: Ovation—the practice of authentic, values-aligned recognition. They dig into Gallup research showing that only 27% of employees feel regularly recognized at work, despite the fact that frequent praise correlates with dramatically higher engagement.

Michael shares real stories from his leadership experience, like writing weekly handwritten thank-you notes, and explores how recognition practices can foster connection, morale, and momentum in higher education and beyond.

Whether you're managing from the middle or guiding change from the top, this episode will help you give recognition that sticks.

Timestamps
  • 00:00 – Welcome and final stop on the MACRO Leadership journey
  • 02:00 – Why Ovation brings closure and builds momentum
  • 03:30 – Gallup Q12 insights: Only 27% feel regularly recognized
  • 05:30 – How recognition affects retention and the bottom line
  • 07:00 – Leadership behaviors that create a culture of gratitude
  • 08:30 – Michael’s story: Friday handwritten thank-you notes
  • 11:00 – Why specific, timely, and values-based praise works best
  • 15:30 – Avoiding generic praise and tailoring Ovation to personality
  • 18:00 – Peer recognition, CliftonStrengths, and 'catching people doing something right'
  • 20:00 – Three ways to build better Ovation habits
  • 24:00 – Reflection questions and next steps for leaders
    • Key Takeaways
    • Recognition isn’t a luxury—it’s a leadership responsibility.
    • Specific, values-aligned Ovation builds meaning and momentum.
    • Handwritten notes can have a lasting impact and inspire others to do the same.
    • Public vs. private recognition should be tailored to individuals.
    • Peer-to-peer Ovation strengthens team culture and trust.
    • Systems don’t have to be big—they just need to be intentional.
      • Reflection Questions
      1. When was the last time you were recognized for your work? What impact did that have?
      2. When was the last time you recognized someone else? What happened as a result?
      3. What one Ovation habit will you build into your leadership this week?
        4. Resources & Mentions
        • Gallup Q12 Survey: https://www.gallup.com/394373/indicator-employee-engagement.aspx 
        • MACRO Leadership Book: engagedbydesign.org/macro-leadership
        • Engaged By Design Consulting: engagedbydesign.com/consulting 

          • Is your recognition strategy helping or hurting your team culture? We’d love to help you design an Ovation system that works. Visit https://engagedbydesign.com to schedule a consultation.

          Don’t forget to follow, rate, and share the Engaged By Design podcast. And tag us with your own Ovation practices—we’d love to celebrate with you.

          Affiliate Links: 

          Books referenced in this episode 

          • MACRO Leadership, by Michael Cottam: https://amzn.to/476zHRP   

            • The technology we used 

            • Shure MV7+ Microphone: https://amzn.to/4obxnPC  
              • Shure MV7i Microphone with Audio Interface: https://amzn.to/3GX0Jkb 
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                Engaged By DesignBy Dr. Michael Cottam and Dr. Vernon Smith