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Recognition training

Recognising well is a skill you can learn.

Recognition is the missing pillar of management. We train your teams to practise it well, with method and 40 minutes of hands-on practice per session.

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Born at Airbus in 2018. Over 500,000 thank-you messages already exchanged.

Recognition training at work
Why it matters

Recognition, the first driver of engagement

1st
Recognition, listening and fairness rank first among the drivers of quality of work life.
Cadremploi-Deloitte barometer, 2015
13%
of employees feel engaged at work in Europe, and only 8% in France.
Gallup, 2023
73%
of healthcare workers say they do not feel recognised in their job.
Listen Leon, healthcare
The reality

Saying thank you and recognising do not produce the same effect

Most thank-you messages exchanged at work are politeness or kindness, rarely genuine recognition. The whole point of the training is to move up the pyramid, from the bottom to the top.

Recognition
"When you took over the file yesterday, it was a real relief. Your ability to stay calm is a genuine strength."
Appreciation
"I appreciate having you by my side."
Kindness and compliments
"You're great."
Politeness
"Thanks a lot!"

The goal of the training: help everyone move up toward the top of the pyramid.

A simple principle

Informal recognition has more impact than formal recognition

Informal recognitionA word, a message, a gesture at the right moment.
>
Formal recognitionSalary, bonuses, promotion.
Scientifically proven

Our know-how is validated by research

In 2022, a study published in the Journal of Happiness Studies demonstrated the effectiveness of the Listen Leon method in an experimental setting, with employees in France and Canada.

1
Strength-oriented positive feedback

Sending and receiving feedback on real, situated and concrete strengths.

2
Needs satisfaction

Autonomy, competence and social relatedness. Linked to motivation, β = 0.64.

3
Autonomous motivation

Enjoyment, meaning, alignment with one's values. Linked to well-being, β = 0.54.

4
Improved well-being

Higher-quality motivation translates into greater psychological well-being.

Source: Gradito Dubord, M.-A., Forest, J. et al. (2022), Journal of Happiness Studies. Method grounded in self-determination theory (Ryan and Deci, 2000).

The programme

A tailor-made journey, in person or online

Leadership

Leadership workshop, 2h

Get the leadership team on board, set the direction and align the message before any roll-out.

Managers

Manager sessions, 2h

In groups of 10, including 40 minutes of practice on real cases. Everyone leaves with a piece of recognition ready to send.

20 min
Why recognition matters, and what your barometer says.
25 min
The pyramid and the four forms of recognition. Where everyone really stands.
20 min
The four criteria of recognition that has an effect, and the method to recognise well.
40 min
Workshop: everyone writes a piece of recognition for a real person on their team.
15 min
Field objections.

During the session, our AI coach supports each participant personally and suggests an improved version of their message. This acculturation phase can also stand alone, with no commitment, before any roll-out.

On the ground

What your managers will say, and how we respond

"If I praise them, they'll ask for a raise."
The number one barrier in France. We show why well-phrased recognition produces the opposite effect.
"I'll make people jealous."
We work on universality, one of the four criteria of effective recognition.
"I don't have time."
Fifteen seconds per message, a few times a week.
"They're just doing their job."
The heart of the matter, and the most interesting thing to tackle in the workshop.
"We're in production here, this isn't a fairy tale."
The recognition we're talking about is factual and professional. It names a work behaviour and its effect on the result.
"If I say positive things, they won't believe me when I give critical feedback."
It's the opposite. A manager who only speaks up to correct puts their team on the defensive.
They lived it

A training that hit home

"Well done to Benoit and the Listen Leon team for this acculturation session that trained our managers in recognition at work. Many told me they had realised they could now practise it better and now have an effective method at their disposal. And all of this in a session that was enjoyable for everyone, to be rolled out as widely as possible!"
Laurent MartinManaging Director, Seafood BU, STEF
18 leadership-team directors trained · Rated 9.2/10 · June 2026
They trust us
Over 500,000 thank-you messages exchanged, born at Airbus in 2018.
AirbusThalesBNP ParibasGSKPernod RicardRTEATRVoltaliaSeqensDaiichi-SankyoAgefiphGreat Place To Work

Listen Leon has been featured on French national television (Télématin and the France 2 evening news), as well as on France Inter, M6, Europe 1, La Provence and Radio-Canada.

Make recognition a skill

Let's talk about your teams and your goals. We build an offer tailored to your context.

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