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Life Fulfilled Podcast — Rethinking Leadership for Sustainable Performance

Hosted by Bernie Borges | Founder, Fulfilled@Work Academy

Most people think of fulfillment as a feeling. But we treat it as a strategy—a powerful driver of performance, loyalty, and leadership impact.

Whether you lead in the workplace, at home, or in your community, host Bernie Borges helps you harness the five life pillars—health, fitness, career, relationships, and legacy—to lead with both head and heart.

If your team’s performance is slipping and you can’t see why, this podcast helps you uncover the silent costs of disengagement.

You can’t lead high-performing teams with outdated tools. This podcast gives you the upgrade.

You’ll hear no-fluff solo episodes and guest conversations on modern leadership, workplace culture, disengagement, and the evolving role of AI, always grounded in actionable insights that help you create traction where it matters most.

Bernie is the creator of the Fulfillment-Centric Leadership™ Framework and founder of the Fulfilled@Work Academy, equipping leaders to build energized, high-performing teams without sacrificing what matters most.

If you’re ready to align performance with purpose, starting where you spend most of your time, subscribe to the Life Fulfilled Podcast. Because fulfillment isn’t just a feeling. It’s your performance strategy.

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Life Fulfilled Podcast — Rethinking Leadership for Sustainable Performance

Recognition as the Low Cost Driver for Employee Engagement and Retention

November 10, 2025 • Season 4 • Episode 260

In episode 260, host Bernie Borges dives deep into one of the most overlooked (yet powerful) drivers of workplace engagement: recognition. If you’re looking to boost morale, deepen connections, and foster true fulfillment at work, this episode is for you.

Three Key Insights from the Episode:

1️⃣ Recognition is More Than Rewards: Bernie highlights the difference between recognition and rewards. While rewards are transactional (think hitting sales targets), recognition is relational. It’s about genuinely seeing and valuing the effort, growth, and care people put into their work.

2️⃣ Peer-to-Peer and Self-Recognition Matter: Recognition isn’t just top-down. Some of the most meaningful moments often come from peers. A simple thank you or acknowledgment can quickly transform team culture. Plus, self-recognition helps us appreciate our own growth, quieting the constant urge to keep moving without reflection.

3️⃣ Authentic Recognition Powers Retention: Bernie makes it clear: recognition, when consistent and authentic, builds identity and belonging. When people feel seen, loyalty and engagement rise. He shares that training leaders in this skill is essential for truly impactful recognition.

Main Takeaway:
Recognition isn’t a “nice to have." It’s a low-cost, high-impact lever for engagement, culture, and retention. Make it a habit, not just a holiday!

Calculate the ROI of employee engagement with our ROI Calculator
https://fulfilledatworkacademy.com/services/employee-engagement-fund-roi-calculator/

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Music attribution:
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