The Company Pizza Party

[00:00:00] Speaker A: Opinions expressed in this episode are personal. They do not necessarily reflect the views of this streaming platform. [00:00:10] Speaker B: Good day, wonderful people, and welcome to another edition of let's Be Diverse. I am your host, Andrew Stout. This episode is dedicated to all my loved ones who have supported me through this journey. Those who have left us will always be in our hearts and will never be forgotten. In today's episode, we're going to be diving into a topic that I've talked about often, the company pizza party. So whether you're listening on your lunch break, walking a dog, washing dishes, hitting a treadmill, or sitting in traffic pretending not to be annoyed, I appreciate you. Thank you for joining me. So let's get into it. So why are we talking about the pizza party today? Because I've seen this movie many times. The team pulls off a miracle. Late nights, weekend calls, stressful deadlines, emotional labor, all the things. And what do you get? A pizza party. And listen, I love pizza. I'm not an anti pizza person. I love a good slice of pizza. But that's not the point. The company pizza party has become the easy way out. It's what happens when leadership tries to throw a quick carb based solution at deep issues like burnout, lack of appreciation and morale that's been scraped all the way down to zero. It's really about real acknowledgement, real gratitude and real leadership presence. And trust me, I've lived this more than once. So let me take you back. Early in my career, I was on a team that was going through everything at once. New leadership, shifting priorities, fewer resources, higher expectations. You know what a classic workplace cocktail. People were tired, people were stressed, yet people showed up every day. They covered each other, they stayed late. They did the job of two people with half the resources. After months of this, leadership sends an email. Thanks everyone. Lunch is in the break room. We walk in, two large pepperoni pizzas, a stack of napkins and silence. No conversation. No we saw how hard you've been working. No acknowledgement. The actual blood, sweat and tears people put in. Just pizza. I remember looking around at my co workers, people who were exhausted, people who had carried the department, people who had been giving more than they got and thinking I deserve more than this. Not more money or a trip to the Bahamas, just meaningful recognition. A human moment. A sincere thank you. That day taught me a key lesson, one I still carry with me. Attitude reflects leadership. The tone leaders set matters more than the pizza that they offer. And again, it's not about the food. It's about the message behind it. So let's keep this practical, because if you're a leader, a manager, a supervisor, even just someone who wants to be better in. In your relationships, this matters. Real recognition is specific. Like, call people out by name, say what they did. Thanks, Jasmine, for taking the lead on that project when no one could shout out to Marcus for staying late three straight days. People want to be seen. It's timely. Don't save appreciation for performance reviews. Don't wait six months. Say it when it happens. And it's tailored. Ask your team, how do you like to be recognized? Some people love public recognition. Some prefer a private thank you. Some love a day of more than any pizza party you could ever offer. Being human or vulnerable. Sometimes the biggest gifts are just being present. Listening, noticing, telling someone, hey, I saw what you did, and let me tell you, it mattered. Recognition isn't about extravagance. It's about intention. If you're in a leadership role, big or small, I want to challenge you for a second. Before you call to make that pizza order, ask yourself, does this match the level of effort that my team gave me? Or is this just easy? No shame. But sometimes we have to admit the truth. Pizza is easy. A speech is harder. Time is harder. Presence is harder. But presents is what people remember. You can still order the pizza. Just pair it with presents. Don't hide behind the food. Stand in front of people and tell them what you saw. Tell them what you're proud of, and tell them why it mattered. Because people can smell empty appreciation from a mile away, and it leaves them feeling undervalued even when their stomach is full. This episode isn't really about pizza. It's about culture. It's about how we treat people. It's about the environments that we create. And it's about making sure that when someone gives you their best emotionally, mentally, and physically, they actually feel it meant something. When we don't do that, we create workplaces where resentment grows, where burnout grows, where people start doing the bare minimum because why bother? But when we recognize people, everything shifts. People thrive, teams connect, culture gets stronger, and pizza becomes a celebration, not just a badge. If you've ever been on the receiving end of a pizza party, trust me, you're not alone. Thank you for hanging with me today on this solo episode. If today's episode made you laugh, made you cringe, or made you rethink the way you lead, send me a message. And seriously, I want to hear your own pizza party stories. The good, the bad, and the cheesy. Connect with me on LinkedIn or Instagram @ Andrew Stout and follow the show let's Be Diverse so you don't miss what's coming next. And remember, recognition shouldn't be an afterthought. And leadership. It's more than a free lunch. It's about showing people that they matter. Thank you for listening and until next time, be safe, be kind, and remember that if we all work together, we can accomplish. [00:05:40] Speaker A: Anything. You have been listening to let's Be Diverse with Andrew Stout. 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