Drew Harden’s Post

..especially in a remote work environment, Marty's advice is really valuable. Achievements are all too often glossed over, missed, or even dismissed... Listen to Marty:

Is your organization celebrating it's big wins? As a leader - are you taking the time to recognize your teams milestones and achievements? Often, companies find it difficult to do this. Listening to Brené Brown share this morning to a global Entrepreneurs' Organization audience - I was struck by her research in this area. 'Foreboding joy' is a term she has coined which she describes as "the feeling when joy is quickly followed by worry and dread". She shared how we do this as individuals, and how it can also show up in companies. "Foreboding joy in an organization is not celebrating wins - out of FEAR that the team will take their foot off the gas pedal" I know I have been guilty of this. When the pressure is on, you want to keep the momentum, stopping to celebrate takes time, energy and resources. But her research shows that when we celebrate wins - there is a decrease in burnout and a REINVESTMENT in work. There is no data to support employee disengagement following celebration. Have you had any big or small wins so far in 2024? Has any of your team stepped up in a big way? What are ways you could celebrate this? What would hold you back from celebrating?

Celebrate the Wins, Big and Small In the rush of deadlines, meetings, and endless to-do lists, it’s easy to overlook the moments that truly deserve recognition. But taking the time to celebrate wins, whether they’re big milestones or small victories, can transform a team’s energy and motivation. Celebrating wins isn’t just about acknowledgment; it’s about fostering a culture where effort is appreciated, progress is recognized, and individuals feel valued. Here’s why it matters: • Boosts Morale: Acknowledging accomplishments energizes the team and builds confidence. • Strengthens Team Bonds: Shared celebrations remind us that every success is a collective effort. • Reinforces Values: Highlighting achievements reinforces what the team stands for and what matters most. This could be as simple as a shoutout during a meeting, a thoughtful note, or even a team lunch. The size of the gesture doesn’t matter nearly as much as the intention behind it. How does your team celebrate wins? Let’s inspire each other to make recognition a bigger part of workplace culture!

Let's Celebrate Success at Every Opportunity As individuals, most of us celebrate personal achievements and anniversaries readily, but what about organisations? Often businesses fail to mark what their staff members are achieving. Sometimes they fail to even notice. When was the last time your company or department really celebrated a success? How did people feel when it happened? (It has happened, hasn’t it…?) Handled well, marking the passing of a milestone gives colleagues a sense of satisfaction (obviously), appreciation, and progress. It can create a new energy, and a greater sense of commitment to a shared purpose. So how do we capitalise on all these good outcomes? The short answer is to do it more often. Ask team leaders to define upcoming goals and waypoints, then hold them accountable for telling everyone when they’ve been achieved. But try to make the goals meaningful – the 235th new customer this month doesn’t sound important, but maybe the 500th does. Or the one that marks +30% up on last year. You want markers that tie-in to a delivery plan for business growth, and range across every operational area. “Faster, higher, stronger” was the original Olympic Games motto, so what types of comparison are needed in your business, today? Celebrating multiple, meaningful successes creates a culture of positivity, and a sustainable sense of progress that people can get behind. How you celebrate depends on the business, the people involved, and the importance of the milestone. But make it meaningful and appropriate, share it throughout the organisation, and see what happens to your morale and contentment scores.

Today is my birthday, and I want to express my deep gratitude for all the warm wishes and congratulations I have received. Speaking of celebrations, I would like to share some thoughts on why it is so important to take the time to celebrate successes, both in our professional and personal lives. Celebrating achievements is not just fun – it is also crucial for both personal and professional development. When we take the time to celebrate our accomplishments, big or small, we create a positive work environment that fosters motivation and engagement. Here are a few reasons why celebrating is essential: ☀Increased Motivation: Acknowledging successes, whether it’s a completed project or a personal milestone, gives us a sense of satisfaction and drives us to continue striving for new goals. ☀Improved Team Morale: Celebrations foster a sense of camaraderie and strengthen team cohesion. Sharing joy and recognition with colleagues helps build stronger relationships and a more supportive work environment. ☀Recognition of Hard Work: Celebrating is a way to show appreciation for the dedication and effort that individuals and teams put in. This recognition can be a powerful motivator, leading to increased loyalty and productivity. ☀Encourages Creativity: A positive work environment where achievements are celebrated encourages creativity and innovation. When people feel valued and recognized, they are more likely to contribute new ideas and solutions. ☀Strengthens Organizational Culture: Regularly celebrating achievements helps shape and strengthen a positive organizational culture. This, in turn, can attract and retain talent, which is crucial for long-term success. So, let’s take the time to celebrate our achievements, both big and small. It’s not just a way to enjoy the moment, but also an investment in our future success. 🎉 #success #motivation #teammorale #workenvironment #organizationalculture

What you celebrate gets reproduced. Here's a 2 question celebration assessment for my leaders out there... 1. What do you celebrate? The work or the outcomes? Only celebrate the results and you'll end up with a fixed-minded, perfectionist culture that fears failure. (Not what you want) Focus on celebrating the work that leads to the desired outcomes and you'll have a growth-minded, process-oriented culture where people constantly get better. 2. How frequently are you celebrating? Daily, weekly, monthly? According to Gallup, less than 1/3 of US employees said they received feedback for doing good work over the past week. Great general rule - celebrate people 5x more than you think you should. Team members who feel valued produce more and stay longer than those who don't. P.S. Ice dream from Chick-fil-A Restaurants was for Elliott's first report card... sometimes it's ok to celebrate the outcomes and milestone moments.

जैसे पौधों को पानी चाहिए, वैसे ही लोगों को सराहना। (Just like plants need water, people need recognition.) Recognition isn’t just a workplace buzzword—it’s the heartbeat of a thriving team. But here’s the catch: There’s no one-size-fits-all. What works for one team may not resonate with another. That’s why I’m curious: 👉 What’s YOUR favorite way to recognize and appreciate your team? Some ideas I’ve seen spark magic: 1️⃣ Personalized thank-you notes that feel truly heartfelt. 2️⃣ Celebrating team wins with small surprises (hello, pizza party!). 3️⃣ Social shoutouts that make achievements visible to everyone. Every gesture—big or small—goes a long way in making someone feel valued. So let’s crowdsource some brilliance today. Drop your best recognition practices in the comments, and let’s learn from each other! P.S.Tag someone whose recognition idea inspired you recently. Let’s keep the positivity flowing. #recognitionpractices #teamculture #hrstrategies #humanresources

As we wrap up the year, there’s one powerful way to motivate your team: Celebrate what you’ve accomplished! 🎉 Why does this matter? Year-end is the ideal time to recognize milestones and accomplishments that align with your team’s core objectives. It’s more than a morale boost—it sets the stage for positive momentum into the new year. Here are three simple tips to celebrate your team's efforts and build tam morale. 1. Acknowledge and celebrate meaningful achievements, big and small, to emphasize your team’s purpose 2. Recognize contributions from each corner of the organization to foster a culture of appreciation 3. Reinforce the value behind the team's efforts and their contribution to the long-term vision Celebrating success at the year’s end isn’t just for show. It reinforces team alignment, boosts morale, and excites your team about tackling future goals together. 💬 How does your team celebrate wins at year-end?

As we reflect on gratitude this Thanksgiving week, we’re reminded of how important it is to celebrate the incredible contributions of our team members. One of the ways Freestar does this is by encouraging peer recognition for a job well done. Publicly acknowledging colleagues—whether it’s giving them a shoutout in the recognition channel on Slack or nominating them for a Taking Care of Business (TCB) award—goes a long way in maintaining the positive and collaborative culture we’ve cultivated at Freestar. This approach helps strengthen working relationships, keeps us aligned with our core values as we evolve, drives excellence, reinforces clear communication, and celebrates wins in a regular and meaningful way. We’d love to hear from YOU in the comments—what employee recognition strategies have you seen done well by a current or previous employer?

Many people think recognition is only for major achievements, but celebrating everyday efforts can be just as important. At Chapter 2, we make it a point to acknowledge not only significant milestones but also the daily contributions that keep our team moving forward. We use a ‘kudos’ slack channel where anyone can post shout-outs for their colleagues. It’s a small gesture that has a big impact. How do you recognise and celebrate everyday efforts in your workplace?