Magic in the Room #48: Meaningful Recognition w/ Special Guest Ashley Hurney

March 23, 2021

For people to feel genuinely appreciated, we must go beyond simply telling them they did a good job. Instead, we must give Meaningful Recognition, which is more intentional and thoughtful. In this episode, Luke, Chris, and Ashley Hurney of  MTM Recognition  discuss the science and tactics of giving meaningful recognition.

How memorable is your recognition strategy? Does it meet your objectives? What do you do to make your employees feel connected and engaged within your organization? At MTM recognition, they believe that excellence thrives where it is recognized. Can you remember a moment where others recognized your efforts? The hosts of Magic in the Room and MTM’s Ashley Hurney share their experiences and pivotal moments of recognition in their lives and explore the science behind it all.

Every business can have a service award program. The problem is that there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all approach. We weren’t built to checkboxes. As we progress, we should be blowing these tired concepts out of the water. Ashley shares her love of the book,  The Five Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace , and how understanding these differences has helped MTM stand out in their culture with their employees and their customers.

Chris shares a meaningful recognition hack that can help listeners get past the behavior and the character of their employees. He advises it’s not just about showing up each day, but how you show up and communicate in a very human way. The real power of recognition is understanding how enabling people to be seen, heard, and understood can impact people’s lives. Ashley also shares how this ultimate hack is also taking recognition from transactional and elevating it to meaningful.

The hosts also discuss the concept of cash versus recognition. Luke questions if adding $100 to someone’s pay check as recognition will be remembered in 10 years from now. However, an experience such as a trip or tickets to a ballgame will be something that will stay with them forever. Ashley also shares that if you can peel back those layers and explore what will better contribute to your company culture, it’s never going to be cash. It will soon be forgotten, and it won’t help support and bolster your purpose.

When asked about the key takeaways from today’s episode, Chris shares how recognition is the evidence that provides meaning and belonging. It helps him recognize when he is seen, heard, and understood. For Ashley, the conversation was a reminder to always to take the time to do it, right. That’s when the fruits of your labor, your team, and your organization will all do better.

If you want to refresh your recognition strategy and explore the topic on a deeper level, the hosts invite you to explore how they can help your organization reinforce your purpose, values, and strategy. Equally, if you have any questions or want to share your insights, please message the team  info@purposeandperformancegroup.com.

 

 

By Emma Holland June 9, 2026
In this episode of Magic in the Room, Chris Province, Hannah Bratterud, and Luke Freeman reflect on six years of conversations and explore a foundational leadership question: why leadership is ultimately an inside game. Drawing on personal growth, facilitation experiences, and organizational leadership lessons, they argue that effective leadership cannot be reduced to frameworks, checklists, or techniques alone, but instead depends on the ongoing work of self-awareness, discernment, courage, and wisdom. They explore the relationship between courage and conviction, the importance of responding rather than reacting, and the role of personal development in creating positive impact for teams, organizations, and communities. The episode presents leadership as a lifelong practice of leading oneself first, emphasizing that meaningful change begins not with external systems, but with the internal work of becoming more intentional, hopeful, and aligned with one’s values.
By Sarah Whitfield May 5, 2026
In this episode of Magic in the Room, Luke and Hannah explore the concept of polarities. Tensions like purpose and performance, stability and change, or accountability and grace that are often mistaken for problems to solve rather than dynamics to manage. Drawing on insights from Barry Johnson’s work, they explain how these opposing forces are interdependent and must be balanced over time to achieve sustained success. Through practical examples and personal reflections, they show how over-relying on one side of a polarity leads to predictable “shadow sides” such as stagnation, chaos, inefficiency, or burnout, while effective leadership requires recognizing where you are on the cycle and intentionally recalibrating. The episode emphasizes that many recurring organizational frustrations are not failures, but signals of imbalance, and offers a more nuanced approach to leadership. One that replaces rigid either/or thinking with flexible both/and awareness to improve decision-making, team dynamics, and long-term performance.
Show More