Look, I know what you’re thinking. “Mike, I’m already paying my employees. Isn’t that celebration enough?” And to that, my friend, I say, have you met a human before? Because spoiler alert: people like to feel appreciated. And if you want to keep your best employees from running for the nearest exit (or worse, taking their talents to your competitor), you need to celebrate them. Loudly. Enthusiastically. Preferably with confetti cannons.
I’m not saying you need to throw a parade every time Jim from accounting files an expense report on time (though honestly, Jim deserves some love for that). But I am saying that if you’re not actively recognizing and rewarding your team’s contributions, you’re missing a golden opportunity, not just to keep them around, but to make your business a place where people actually want to work.
The cost of a revolving door
We tend to forget. Employee turnover is expensive. Like, “buying a yacht and setting it on fire” expensive. Recruiting, hiring, and training a new employee can cost up to twice their annual salary. And that’s not even factoring in the loss of institutional knowledge, the dip in morale, and the fact that now you have to train another person on how the coffee machine works (seriously, why is that thing so complicated?).
Retention, on the other hand, is a game-changer. When employees feel valued, they stay. They work harder. They actually care about what they’re doing. And this is a wild concept, they become advocates for your business. The kind of people who tell their friends, “Yeah, I actually love my job,” instead of, “I spend most of my day questioning my life choices.”
How to celebrate employees without feeling like a cringe-worthy motivational poster
We’ve all seen those office posters: “Teamwork makes the dream work!” (Insert image of three people in business suits high-fiving in a conference room.) While the sentiment is great, actual employee appreciation needs to go beyond generic pep talks and pizza parties. Here’s how to do it right:
1. Make it personal
If your idea of employee recognition is sending a mass email that says, “Great job, team!” …you’re doing it wrong. People want to be recognized as individuals, not as part of a nameless, faceless “team.”
Instead, make it personal. Call out specific achievements. “Lisa, that presentation you gave knocked everyone’s socks off. I mean, if Bob had been wearing socks, they would’ve been gone.”
2. Surprise, don’t standardize
A once-a-year awards banquet is fine, but spontaneous, unexpected celebrations are way more impactful. Think about it, what’s more exciting? Knowing you’ll get a generic “Employee of the Month” plaque in December? Or walking into work on a random Tuesday to find your desk covered in balloons and a note that says, “You absolutely crushed that client project, and we couldn’t have done it without you.”
People remember surprises. They talk about them. And most importantly, they feel them.
3. Public praise, private raise
Publicly recognizing employees, whether in meetings, company-wide emails, or via interpretive dance (okay, maybe not that last one), reinforces their value. But when it comes to financial rewards, do it privately. Nobody wants to be in an all-hands meeting when you announce, “Hey, Mark got a huge bonus, and the rest of you… well, better luck next year!”
4. Invest in their growth
The best employees don’t just want a paycheck; they want a future. Celebrating them means investing in their skills, offering mentorship, and providing growth opportunities. Send them to that industry conference. Give them time for professional development. Show them you care about their long-term success, not just what they can do for you right now.
5. Have fun with it
Celebrating employees doesn’t have to be a stiff, corporate ordeal. Make it fun. Create a goofy award system. Give out a “Most Likely to Fix the Printer Without Crying” trophy. Bring in a food truck just because. The more genuine joy you bring to the workplace, the more employees will stick around, not just because they have to, but because they want to.
The bottom line
If you want employees who are engaged, loyal, and not secretly updating their LinkedIn profiles during lunch breaks, you have to celebrate them. Make them feel seen, valued, and genuinely appreciated. Because when you do? They’ll do the same for your business.
And hey, if all else fails… there are always confetti cannons.
Wishing you health and wealth always.
-Mike
PS – Want more intel on creating and maintaining an unstoppable team?
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