Leading operations means balancing precision with people—and that’s not always easy.
I know an ops leader in a fast-growing biotech company. Over the last few years, her role has expanded to involve more people and cross-functional work than ever before.
She knows when to lean into her strengths—systems, structure, and data—but also senses when a different approach is needed.
She recently said, “I can dial up the human side when I have to. But honestly, it feels like a distraction from what really needs to get done.” For her, recognizing progress—especially the small stuff—takes extra effort and rarely feels natural.
If this sounds familiar, let’s make it easier. This episode is about balancing your systems strength with the people side. You’ll get practical ways to spot and celebrate daily wins—even on your busiest, messiest days.
The Hidden Challenge for Operations Leaders
Think about all the problems you solve before anyone’s the wiser. As you know, those moments rarely get noticed. When only the big wins are noticed, people start wondering if their steady grind even counts.
When things get hectic—product launches, tight deadlines, curveballs—recognition isn’t just a bonus. It matters. Most wins in operations are small and easy to miss. They won’t show up on a dashboard. Calling out those day-to-day wins gives your team a boost exactly when they need it.
There’s real pride in getting the details right and making things work. But there’s a secret weapon: micro-recognition. It means spotting progress as it happens and saying it out loud. Real thanks, not empty flattery.
Micro-Recognition: The Easy Solution for Daily Ops Impact
It sounds like:
- Catching progress, not just perfection. Messaging your team with things like: “Noticed you found a way to simplify that workflow—smart move.” No speech—just straightforward thanks.
- Recognizing in the moment. No need to wait for the next review—say thanks right when you spot a win.
- Linking praise to progress. Show what their effort means: ‘Because you fixed that, next quarter will run smoother.’
Experimenting with micro-recognition might feel awkward at first—that’s completely normal. New habits always take a bit of practice.
Simple Ways to Make Recognition Stick
To make this habit stick, fold it into what you already do every day. Here are a few easy ways to start:
- Pair it with something you already do, like your morning coffee or afternoon wrap-up. Send a quick message about a small win you noticed.
- Spotlight it at meetings. A shout-out for progress at the start or end of a meeting can set a positive tone and encourage others to follow.
- Keep a visible tracker, a sticky note or running list (digital or paper) on your desk for wins you see. At week’s end, pass those on. Sometimes, just seeing the wins pile up is a boost for everyone.
Recognition might feel like a distraction sometimes, but calling out progress helps your team get through crunch times.
So, here’s your closing question: What tiny progress did you spot today, and how can you call it out? And if nothing comes to mind, pause and get curious. Real growth usually starts there.
Take care of your people, and the processes will take care of themselves—probably faster than you think.
So, give it a try, and let me know how it goes.
And if you’re curious about more ways to recognize small wins and spark team energy, check out episode 60, “How Operations Execs Master Mediocrity.” It shines a light on the quiet patterns that keep you stuck in average results and shows how subtle shifts in mindset and action can break that cycle. Find it at: YourFutureRealized.com/60.
You can’t stop the chaos, but you can change the game.