FRESH IDEAS FOR LEADERS: A tip that will transform your leadership | From chaos to a dream team

AUGUST 2025

Acknowledgement versus praise – and why it matters

One of the most important shifts I’ve made as a coach – and as a leader – is understanding the difference between praise and acknowledgement.

It might sound subtle, but the impact is profound.

Praise often comes from a good place. We want to uplift others. But it typically centres the person giving it. It’s often evaluative: “I’m proud of you” or “I think you did a great job.”

While those words can feel good in the moment, they subtly position the leader as the one holding the stamp of approval – the final arbiter of worth or success.

Matt's story: How coaching transformed a crisis into a dream team

When Matt McKenna first turned to coaching, he was at a crossroads.

A senior wealth advisor, Matt has built his career and business around long-term relationships and trust.

But he saw trouble beginning to boil over as not all members of his team were meeting the high standards they had collectively aspired to. He worried about the impact this could have not only on his office but their clients.

“I was stuck,” Matt recalls. “I didn’t know how to address it.”

That changed when he began working with Vision coach Lianne Krakauer. Lianne helped Matt clarify what mattered most: his values, his vision for the team, and the kind of leader he wanted to be.

Know your value and stick to your narrative

In this episode from The Boiling Point archive, hosts Dave Veale and Greg Hemmings sit down with Steve Waxman, veteran music executive and host of The Creationists podcast, to explore the power of staying true to your story in business and in life.

Drawing on decades in the music industry, from working with legends like Billy Idol to guiding up-and-coming artists, Steve shares what it means to truly know your value and stick to your narrative, especially in creative fields where it’s easy to lose yourself chasing trends or fame.

The conversation dives into authenticity, resilience and the importance of aligning your work with what matters most to you – offering lessons that resonate far beyond the recording studio.

Tune in now via The Boiling Point website or your favourite podcast platform.

In Harvard Business Review, When the Best Leadership Skill Is Just Being Present explores the underestimated power of attunement – showing up with calm presence, curiosity and compassion rather than jumping to fix or advise. With 52 per cent of workers reporting high stress, this leadership skill has never been more vital.

In Time, Why the Best Leaders Embrace Their Inner Idiot makes a compelling case for vulnerable leadership. It argues that letting go of the need to appear all-knowing builds trust, invites innovation and unlocks team potential.

Inc. magazine features Capitalizing on the Power of Recognition, which outlines three simple but powerful practices that can strengthen culture, drive performance and deepen connection in the workplace – all through the consistent habit of appreciation.