And for you… A Standing Ovation

At the recent Conference for Conferences, produced by Jenny Sauer-Klein, she and her team of experience designers demonstrated something extraordinary: the power of designing experiences that unlock human potential.

One deceptively simple practice stood out—before a speaker takes the stage, the audience rises in a standing ovation.

Why does this matter? Because it challenges one of the deepest assumptions baked into organizational culture: that trust, recognition, and belonging must be earned. Instead, this practice offers them upfront.

Imagine stepping onto a stage, or into a meeting, already met with affirmation. You feel seen, valued, trusted—not for what you have proven, but for who you are and what you’re about to bring. That’s an entirely different starting line. It creates the conditions for courage, creativity, and contribution.

Too often, leaders and organizations unconsciously set the bar at “prove yourself first.” But what if we reversed the equation? What if we built cultures where trust is the default and appreciation is the opening move?

People would rise to meet that confidence. They would take risks, stretch into their potential, and offer their best.

This isn’t just a conference trick. It’s a mindset. At home, my husband and I sometimes give each other standing ovations for everyday contributions—cooking a meal, fixing something, showing up. It’s playful, yes, but also profoundly affirming. It reminds us that being seen and appreciated fuels the desire to give more.

A standing ovation is more than applause. It’s a declaration: we trust you, we believe in you, we are here for you.

Leaders, colleagues, communities—what if we started offering this kind of recognition more freely? What if we designed our meetings, our workplaces, even our relationships around this principle?

Because when trust and appreciation are given at the start, people don’t just perform. They thrive.

So today, wherever you are, I give you a standing ovation.