As the year comes to a close, many leaders are already moving on to the goals and plans of the new year. It’s easy to get moving on to the next thing before we celebrate our successes and achievements.
Celebration honors the work that has been done and shows gratitude to the people who accomplished it.
It has been challenging year for many people and organizations. But celebrating our achievements – even small wins – can help reinforce the motivation that will carry us through to the next achievement.
According to The Power of Small Wins, 76% of people report that their best days involved making progress toward goals. Small wins can motivate us to make progress on big goals.
By celebrating our success, we reinforce the motivation that will carry us through the next achievement – and the next year. This is important for you individually as well as for your organization.
Take the time to step back and recognize the effort that went into achieving that big success or even a modest win and do it authentically.
We’ve all seen the “going through the motions” year-end celebrations that result in more rolled eyes than actual pride. Here are some ideas for how to make your celebration meaningful:
- Be specific about what was accomplished, how it made a contribution, and why it’s important.
- Celebrate habits, capabilities, and alignment to values in addition to numbers.
- Write some handwritten notes of gratitude and appreciation. It doesn’t take a big effort, but it’s hugely meaningful to people.
- It’s a celebration, so HAVE SOME FUN!
And as Tom Peters says, “Celebrate what you want to see more of!”
