Why Recognising Your People Might Be the Most Important Two Minutes You Spend Today
Oct 03, 2025The Stats Say It All
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37% of employees say being recognised is their top motivator.
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28% want that recognition to come specifically from their manager.
These numbers don’t surprise me.
But they should make us stop and think.
Because a simple, genuine two-minute conversation might be enough to keep a strong team member engaged — and save you from a six-month cycle of hiring, onboarding, and starting over.
So why don’t more leaders do it?
It’s Not Neglect. It’s Underdeveloped EQ.
Most leaders aren’t holding back recognition on purpose.
What’s often missing is emotional intelligence — and the awareness that this is even something they need to work on.
We invest the first 30 years of life building our IQ — through school, exams, performance reviews.
But EQ? That’s usually left to chance.
Two Systems. One Gets All the Attention.
Here’s a simple way to think about it:
🧠 IQ brain – trained, tested, measured.
❤️ EQ brain – often ignored, but quietly shaping how we show up, lead, and respond to others.
Your EQ brain is like an operating system that hasn’t had an update in years. It still runs. But with glitches. And those glitches show up in pressure moments — the ones that matter most.
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A poorly timed reaction
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A missed opportunity to connect
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A high performer walking away quietly
Developing EQ Takes Time — But It Changes Everything
Emotional intelligence isn’t something you “read about” and suddenly get better at. It takes at least 6 months of consistent practice. Think of it like the couch-to-5k of leadership.
And just like running, you start by noticing what’s hard. What holds you back. What trips you up when things get real.
But over time, you build awareness. You become the kind of leader who:
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Notices what others miss
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Calms your internal “fire alarm” before it hijacks your thinking
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Creates psychological safety by how you show up
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Understands when, why, and how to give meaningful recognition
Recognition Isn’t Soft. It’s Smart.
When your EQ is strong, you don’t wait for annual reviews to say what matters.
You spot the moment. You say what needs to be said. And you do it in a way that lands.
That’s not just emotional intelligence. That’s smart leadership.
And in today’s world, it’s your edge.
Want to Strengthen Your Leadership EQ?
If you’re ready to become a more grounded, emotionally aware leader — or want to explore what emotional intelligence could do for your team — I’d love to hear from you.
📩 Contact James: [email protected]
🌐 Learn more: www.hooper-rees.com