3 Team Appreciation Strategies That Actually Keep People Around

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July 8, 2025

On July 8, 2025

Hiring isn’t the real problem — retention is.

And if you’re scaling past 7 figures, turnover doesn’t just slow you down… it sabotages momentum, culture, and profitability.
In this episode, 3 Team Appreciation Strategies That Actually Keep People Around, I’m joined by Dr. Paul White, psychologist, bestselling author, and co-creator of The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace with Dr. Gary Chapman. For over 20 years, Paul has helped businesses—from startups to household names like Pepsi and Caterpillar—eliminate disengagement, stop recognition fatigue, and build sustainable, high-performing cultures.

We unpack 3 proven team appreciation strategies that aren’t about birthday parties, bonuses, or gift cards. These are tactical, data-backed ways to increase team loyalty, fix remote culture gaps, and reduce the hidden cost of churn—without adding complexity.
If you lead a remote or hybrid team, or you’re noticing drops in morale or ownership as you scale, this one’s for you.

Watch the Full Episode

Listen to the Full Episode

If You’re Scaling a 7-Figure Agency, This Episode Is for You If…

You’re tired of starting over every time a team member leaves

Your remote team feels disengaged or disconnected, and you’re not sure why

You’re spending too much time hiring and not enough time leading

You’re skeptical of recognition programs that don’t actually move the needle

You want a system for building a culture that retains, without micromanaging

What You’ll Hear in This Episode

00:00 Intro: Dr. Paul White’s Work With Teams
02:09. From Psychology to Business: Paul’s Origin Story
04:34. What 450,000 Employees Taught Us About Appreciation
06:32. Why Recognition Alone Doesn’t Keep Top Talent
07:59. The Flawed Gift Card Culture and HR Fatigue
10:09. The True Cost of Missing Appreciation
13:23. Appreciation as Culture Oil: A Practical Metaphor
15:05. Words of Affirmation: What Works, What Backfires
18:35. Remote Teams: How to Build Loyalty from Afar
21:49. Building Connection Without Wasting Time
23:18. Retention and Profitability: The Unseen Link
30:09. What Paul’s Wrestling With: Succession and Scale

Books Mentioned

The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace by Dr. Gary Chapman & Dr. Paul White
Integrity by Dr. Henry Cloud
Trust by Dr. Henry Cloud

Connect with Dr. Paul White

To get access to a free sample of the Motivating by Appreciation Inventory, a group report, and insights on how this system is working inside companies like Pepsi and Caterpillar, email Paul directly at yesdrpaul@gmail.com. Just mention this podcast in the subject line.

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Want to Be a Guest on the Show?

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About Dr. William Attaway:

Dr. William Attaway is a seasoned Executive Mindset and Leadership Coach who helps 6-, 7-, and 8-figure digital agency owners scale their businesses with clarity, systems, and confidence. With nearly 30 years of experience, he equips growth-driven entrepreneurs to build high-performing teams, implement scalable systems, and transition from freelancer to CEO.

He hosts the Catalytic Leadership™ Podcast—ranked in the Top 2% of podcasts globally (source: Listen Notes)—with a weekly reach of over 50,000. Each episode features elite agency owners and top digital entrepreneurs sharing what actually works when scaling a service-based business.

From leadership development and visionary thinking to mindset transformation and team optimization, Dr. Attaway empowers agency leaders to build a business that thrives without their constant oversight—and a team that flourishes under intentional, scalable leadership.