The week after Christmas is a very unique week. You hopefully just celebrated the holiday with friends and family and we have the new year just around the corner. You’ve worked hard. Your team has worked hard. It’s time to celebrate!
Don’t let the moment pass you by
This happens so easily to leaders because we are constantly looking forward. You know it’s a missed opportunity when we think about it after the time to celebrate has passed. Build in the celebration time at the end of a project or time when your team really stepped up. Your team probably worked their tails off leading up to Christmas. That needs to be celebrated! If you have to ask the question “Should we celebrate this?” Then you probably should.
Vary your celebration style
It’s important to vary your celebration style so that your team doesn’t lose their excitement and the event/activity becomes stale. A surprise pizza or donut party? Awesome! If you do that every Friday, by the end of the month the team is either tired of it, or it becomes expected and it’s not as exciting. Switch it up. Maybe it’s a party and next time it’s a meet-up somewhere. It could be restocking the fridge in the break area with drinks and frozen fun items. It could be as simple as a card or taking time to recognize a person in a group meeting.
It doesn’t have to be expensive
Speaking of simple, it also doesn’t have to be an expensive endeavor. In the past, I would give out silly awards. One was called the “All that and a bag of chips award” that went to the person that did a great job for the week or on a project. It was a certificate I made on the computer with a bag of chips stapled to it. My friend, Lee Cockerell used to give out green tabasco awards. Why green and not red? Because green was different and the award went to people who thought differently, tried new things, or innovated a process in some way. You don’t have to open up your wallet significantly every time you want to celebrate a team win or recognize someone.
Grab the moment, change it up and celebrate with your team. You’ll be investing in the team in a very meaningful and personal way.
Make a better tomorrow.
-ZH
