The praise puzzle: What we crave, what we resist and what it means for organizational culture

August 7, 2025 | 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Eastern
Contact AME: 224-232-5980 | events@ame.org
Fees
Complimentary

Location

Virtual event
Overview

We all say we want more recognition. But when it comes our way—are we really comfortable receiving it? And how often do we give it, even when we know it has a positive impact? This session explores the messy, surprising dynamics of praise in the workplace. Through real-time polls, short activities, and a few brain-science curveballs, we’ll surface the paradoxes that keep us from creating a culture of acknowledgment—and why solving that puzzle matters more than ever for innovation, retention, and trust.

Host company

Swan Consulting & Associates, Inc., designs and delivers workshops that go beyond skill- building—they shift how people think, work, and lead together. Whether through keynotes or workshops with teams, the focus is on creating lasting change by helping people become better collaborators and more effective problem solvers. The result? Strategic breakthroughs that stick—because they’re powered by people who’ve changed how they work with each other. www.elisabethswan.com

Presenter

Elisabeth Swan is a leadership coach, keynote speaker, and co-founder of the learning hub Just-in- Time Cafe, where she helps people lead more connected, people-centered workplaces. With over 30 years of experience in business process improvement, she’s worked with organizations from local nonprofits to Fortune 100 companies, helping them tackle tough challenges and build cultures that thrive. An award-winning author, Elisabeth blends humor and storytelling to inspire action and drive change. Her books include Picture Yourself a Leader and the second edition of The Problem-Solver’s Toolkit. Her current focus is "The Praise Paradox," a powerful exploration of how small shifts in how we interact with others can build a more rewarding and resilient culture—even in the toughest environments.

Agenda

Thursday, August 7, 2025

4 p.m.       Welcome and introduction to AME

4:05 p.m.  Presentation begins

4:50 p.m.  Q&A

5 p.m.       Program concludes

Participation benefits
  • Learn how unconscious habits shape when, how, and if we use it at all
  • Discover how small, authentic acknowledgments can have outsized impacts on motivation, collaboration, and trust
  • Walk away with easy-to-apply techniques that make praise more effective, more frequent, and less weird
Who should attend
  • People leaders who want to inspire without relying solely on hierarchy
  • Individual contributors who care about creating a positive, collaborative culture
  • Frontline anagers looking for practical ways to boost engagement and retention
  • Anyone who's ever thought, “I wish someone noticed what I did.”
Other registration information

We strive to host events that are inclusive and accessible to everyone to fully participate and engage. Please email events@ame.org if you have any questions.

If you are not already a member of AME, we invite you to join at this time. Membership benefits include complimentary and discounted event registrations throughout the entire year. To learn more about membership benefits, please visit here.

By participating in this event, you grant AME, or anyone authorized by AME the right to use or publish in print or electronic medium any photograph or video containing your image or likeness for educational, news, or promotional purposes, without compensation.

To fully participate in an AME virtual event, a high-speed internet connection, speaker/headphones, microphone, and webcam are needed. While not required, you will have a better online experience if you do not use wireless internet service. A wired/ethernet connection will have a stronger signal than wireless. Live captioning will be available for this event. Make sure you download the Zoom Client for Meetings desktop application for the best experience. Do not use the version available through your web browser, as it has limited features. https://zoom.us/download.

Cancelation Policy: This event may be canceled by AME for any reason. AME is not responsible for incidental costs incurred by registrants. For paid events, registration fee less a $20 administration fee will be refunded up to one week before the event. Substitutions may be made up to three days prior to the start of the event.