Why should we celebrate success at work?
“Success begets success. Celebrating in the workplace helps build momentum. It will contribute toward improving morale, and make the hard times feel less hard.”
Key points:
- Why celebrating success is essential in 2022
- What a professional celebration looks like
- Knowing when to celebrate
- Celebrating success the right way
- Examples of how to celebrate and show gratitude
- Ideas for gifts that say “Thank you”
- What to avoid and why
Should we really celebrate success at work?
Traditionally, many professionals have found it difficult to celebrate success. We tend to be more likely to associate celebration with our personal lives or leisure time and less with work. Some of us are great at congratulating each other on promotions and big sales. It is generally the case though that we are less able to celebrate the smaller wins that enable steady overall growth. This can include reviewing and celebrating the successes of the year.
Some business owners worry that if they celebrate small wins, it will invite complacency. They think it could distract people from upcoming goals. Others simply aren’t used to receiving praise themselves and don’t associate celebration with ongoing success. Some of us don’t need recognition. If you are going to nurture a culture of motivation and ongoing success you would be advised to get with the plan!
79% of Australians who leave their job do so because they feel underappreciated. In today’s marketplace, almost anyone can leave a job and walk into a new one without trying too hard. The benefits to employees of the lowest unemployment figures for decades mean we really do have to try harder!
The benefits to a business owner continue beyond retention though. Celebrating success stimulates feelings of “inclusion, innovation, appreciation.” Collaboration in the brain, will pave the way for creative thinking and calmer work environments. These things have all been shown to lead to increased focus and resilience to stress – even during periods of extreme pressure.
Let’s not forget that we are inherently social. Progress relies on the cooperation of many people. Celebration is a pivotal part of social bonding: it’s one way we identify belonging to a group or culture. If you like the sound of loyal employees and strong work culture, it’s time to up your celebration game.
What does a professional celebration look like?
Meaningful public and private recognition are bigger motivational perks than being given a promotion. They beat a hefty bonus or a raise too.
There are many different ways to celebrate your employees in the workplace. You can choose to celebrate a job well done; but you can also celebrate a situation well handled, not just an actual task. You could give someone recognition for attempting something, even if it didn’t lead to tangible outcomes.
“If your company wants to redefine what success looks like, use celebration to show that.”
Success is a process.
Success is not about getting from A to B. It’s about working in a way that fosters creativity. Fulfillment and personal investment will allow you and the business to continue to make progress.
If there is no mountain top or finish line, it’s up to leaders to find good moments to celebrate with employees. This is instead of waiting to get to some final destination to find a reason to celebrate.
Great leaders take the time to notice and reward great work
How do I know when something is cause for celebration?
It should feel special. It is important to choose the right moments to celebrate. Don’t get celebrating something every day, or prescribing praise activities to people. Recognition should be natural and authentic. To matter, it should come from a genuine place of appreciation.
Here are some scenarios in which you might want to celebrate an employee.
When it’s the first win.
If you have new hires, or someone newly promoted… take note! Praising someone when they get it right for the first time is a great way to give someone confidence. Of course, the newness should wear off and these wins become commonplace so know when to back off!
Sometimes it is the small things that count for a lot. Take note and acknowledge those moments when employees support one another. Taking on someone’s workload so they can go on holiday, is a great example and it will remind your staff that their actions make a difference.
When their actions align with company values.
As mentioned earlier, it’s a good idea to celebrate clear demonstrations of your company values. Jot down some guidelines to clarify exactly what does and doesn’t get celebrated so that people know what to expect.
When their work is truly exceptional.
Let’s discuss more senior employees. You might want to save your praise for occasions of outstanding performance. Too much recognition may feel patronizing or unnecessary to experts. It is different for someone new to a role. They might find continuous praise encouraging and welcome. That doesn’t mean you should never praise more experienced employees: just get the balance right!
When their work has been consistently good.
Every company is held together by ongoing, repetitive, and frankly unglamorous tasks that run in the background. It is worth taking the time to notice people whose work is always well done, but rarely celebrated. Show them their reliability and perseverance aren’t taken for granted.
“If great performance and effort comes with appropriate, honest, and well-deserved praise, employees feel they are trusted and supported by their boss.”
How to celebrate employees in the right way.
So now you’ve decided to celebrate someone or something, consider how best to do that. What kind of praise would that person enjoy? It’s no good saying thanks in a way that leaves them feeling uncomfortable. Based on their seniority level you might celebrate their wins more frequently (new hires) or less often for the experts. You can open a discussion on ways to celebrate that suit different circumstances and people.
Make sure the praise stays proportional: you don’t need to send your newest team member a bouquet of flowers and chocolates just because they got to the end of the week! Remember, the praise is for them and their morale – even if you prefer to celebrate your own wins differently. Finally, think about what you want to say beforehand.
Start by outlining the person (or team!) It could be something finite and specific, like getting a report done; or it could be an ongoing behaviour that makes a difference in the long run. Give some detail to show their work has been noticed!
Next, describe the IMPACT of the action. This makes the person feel empowered. It means they had a real effect on the company. Make it deserving (contextualizes the need for celebration).
Finally, end on a REWARD note. Even a thank you and a card signed by everyone on the team. For bigger occasions, you could give other gestures of thanks, such as flexibility on an upcoming project or an extra day off. We hope we have illustrated the need for review and celebration and this time of year is perfect for this exercise. Don’t let the opportunity pass you by to say a big thanks to the staff who help you keep your business running.
For tips on how to future-proof your construction business, download a copy of our free e-book and learn:
- How to create your financial blueprint and visualize your financial “architecture”.
- Why it’s crucial to execute job costing before starting a project and what it means for your bottom line.
- The reasons why successful builders prefer profit margins over location and high property listing prices.
- The power of using tax strategies for long-term building of your business.
- How using technology to increase efficiency helps you to remain on schedule.
- How to easily optimise your cash flow processes.
- Why using a specialized accounting service for reporting is to your advantage.
- And much, much more!
If you would like to speak to us about other ideas please call our dedicated team at Tradies Advantage on (07) 3333 2415. Alternatively, you can email Robert and the team at info@tradiesadvantage.com.au