Many leaders struggle when faced with a celebration in the workplace, and can be left wondering whether they should or not. The argument arises “why should we celebrate, people are already aware that we are succeeding” after yet another milestone has passed. The best answer is to get an equal balance between celebrating when necessary and not overdoing it. However, more than often celebrating when reaching a goal is forgotten about.
In procurement we regularly talk about how to maximise the effectiveness of your workforce, and this can be done through recognising and rewarding achievements.
Why should we celebrate progress?
There are two clear reasons for celebrating progress and this is to reinforce focus and momentum within your employees. During long and tedious projects, focus can get lost as employees concentrate on reaching an end goal. Employees can become engrossed and can easily miss the progress that they have made. It is very important for leaders to help employees to recognise the progress and rejuvenate their focus and team momentum.
How should you do it?
We have identified 7 simple components that will help you when considering and executing a workplace celebration.
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Base it on milestones.
In order to justify a celebration, you must understand the progress that has been made. Having a completed project plan will be an excellent reference, allowing you to see the milestones that were set and when they were achieved.
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Get the team involved.
Inform the entire team when a celebration is due and allow them to get involved in the process, from organising when and where its taking place, to selecting a gift. Giving this responsibility to participants who may not have had a direct involvement in the achievement will let them feel meaningful.
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Don’t be shy.
Don’t celebrate half heartedly. Let your employees know how much you appreciate their hard work, commitment and overall progress.
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Keep the celebration in perspective.
The purpose for the celebration should be clearly outlined. This is not an opportunity to celebrate everyone and everything. Make the individuals involved feel special.
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Be authentic.
There is little point in holding a celebration if you are unable to give them a genuine congratulations. If you are not feeling it, hold back on doing the celebration. Authenticity is vital.
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Make it an event.
It doesn’t have to big or extravagant, but it does need to be an event. Spread the word around the office so everyone knows when it is.
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Consider gifts/rewards
A gift can be a great surprise to add to any celebration. Why not consider a personalised card, vouchers or something else? This also relies on your office’s existing gift-giving culture. Remember that the gift should be appropriate for the specific achievement.
We hope that these suggestions will aid you in your celebration decision-making. When used effectively, celebrations can increase employee motivation, productivity and overall morale.
