Redefine wins to only celebrate step-function improvements

Situation

Reset the definition of wins across engineering teams to only celebrate step-function improvements and exceptional contributions, not completing expected work. Use recognition strategically as a management lever to train teams toward higher performance.

Reasoning

Recognition is a training system - what you celebrate shapes what people aim for. By only recognizing things that raise the bar, you train people to deliver exceptional work rather than baseline expectations. Carrots matter as much as having carrots at all.

Additional Context

Max Spevack coaching on management philosophy. Current WBR allows engineers to self-nominate wins, which often results in celebrating routine task completion.

Observed Evidence

Max: "Only recognize the things that raise the bar. Its my advice for the day." and "Youre not celebrating, we did the thing we said we were going to do. Celebrating is, Fred the engineer built a new system, works like this, provided this step function" and "In a system of carrots and sticks, its not just important to have carrots. Its important what the carrots are."

Confidence Breakdown

Reasoning Depth Analysis