AI Is Rewarding The Loudest Employees

Most reward systems were built for a world where speed, volume, and visible output were reliable signals of performance. But AI now produces all three at scale. That leaves organizations facing an uncomfortable question: if AI can generate more output than ever, what exactly are you rewarding? In this episode, David Rice sits down with Anju Choudhary, Chief People Officer at Xoxoday, to explore why recognition systems need a redesign for the AI era. They discuss the growing gap between productivity and impact, the importance of recognizing human-centered behaviors like judgment and collaboration, and why the most important question leaders can ask isn’t “What do we want people to do?” but “What do we want people to feel?” What You’ll Learn: Why traditional reward systems increasingly reward AI-generated output instead of human contribution How recognition programs can reinforce culture, values, and desired behaviors in real time Why impact matters more than productivity metrics in an AI-augmented workplace How leaders can identify and reward collaboration, judgment, and creativity The risks of rewarding visible AI adoption instead of meaningful business outcomes Why employee experience is shaped more by how people feel than by what they do How AI can support recognition without replacing human leadership and attention Key Takeaways: Audit what you’re actually rewarding. If your system prioritizes speed, volume, and output, AI may be collecting the rewards while human contributions go unnoticed. Recognize behaviors in real time. Quarterly awards have value, but behavior change happens when recognition is immediate and connected to a specific action. Measure impact, not activity. More output doesn’t necessarily mean more value. Focus on outcomes, influence, and business impact. Reward the “how,” not just the “what.” High performers who bring others along create more sustainable success than those who sprint alone. Watch for productivity theater. AI can generate impressive-looking work at scale. Leaders need to distinguish visibility from genuine contribution. Use data as a signal, not a substitute. Analytics can highlight patterns, but leaders still need to pay attention to people, context, and relationships. Different roles will adopt AI differently. Measuring success through AI usage alone creates unfair comparisons and erodes trust. Free humans from repetitive work. The goal isn’t replacing human connection—it’s creating more capacity for coaching, support, and meaningful leadership. Design experiences around emotion. People rarely remember a workplace experience because of what they did. They remember how it made them feel. Feeling replaceable creates resistance. Many AI adoption challenges are less about capability and more about employees questioning their future value. Chapters: 00:00 — Rewarding the Wrong Things 01:43 — Meet Anju Choudhary 02:03 — AI and Incentives 06:36 — Values in Action 08:37 — The Sticky Note Method 09:24 — Measuring Human Skills 12:18 — The Importance of How 14:19 — Better Ways to Work Together 15:14 — Innovation vs. Innovation Theater 17:17 — Recognition as Insight 19:47 — Why Timing Matters 21:02 — Beyond Annual Reviews 25:03 — Uneven AI Adoption 28:46 — Beyond Token Usage 32:16 — AI's Role in Recognition 35:15 — Personalized Onboarding 37:15 — Human Work, Human Moments 38:11 — Start With Feelings 39:46 — Recognition and Belonging 41:02 — The Cost of Feeling Replaceable Meet Our Guest: Anju Choudhary is the Chief People Officer at Xoxoday, bringing more than two decades of experience in people strategy, leadership development, talent transformation, and organizational culture. Known for her expertise in building high-performance, future-ready organizations, she has led large-scale initiatives across learning and development, talent management, employee engagement, diversity, equity and inclusion, and business transformation. A certified coach and passionate advocate for continuous learning, Anju combines data-driven people practices with a strong focus on leadership, culture, and employee experience to drive sustainable business growth and organizational excellence. Related Links: Join the People Managing People Community: https://peoplemanagingpeople.com/free... Connect with Anju on LinkedIn:   / anju-choudhary1   Visit Xoxoday: https://www.xoxoday.com/