“One never notices what has been done; one can only see what remains to be done.” Marie Curie’s words capture the forward-focused nature of leaders. Leaders are wired to look ahead, to see the next challenge, and, without pause, to relentlessly pursue what’s next.
But what if this instinct is holding their team back?
Celebrating Small Wins Isn’t a Luxury—It’s a Necessity
In our journey to the outcome, we often forget to pause and acknowledge how far we’ve come. Making the time to pause and celebrate small wins is a powerful tool. They provide the psychological fuel that recharges morale, builds confidence, and reinforces the behaviors that lead to success. They transform a long, daunting journey into a series of achievable milestones. When leaders, and their teams, fail to periodically recognize their achievements as they relentlessly work towards the end goal, they risk disengagement and burnout.
The Science of “Feel-Good”
When we achieve even a small part of a bigger goal, our brains release dopamine – the “feel-good” neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward. Celebrating that small win amplifies that dopamine rush. This creates a positive feedback loop consisting of:
- Action: Team Members work hard and achieve something.
- Reward: They celebrate the success.
- Reinforcement: Their brains associates that action with a positive feeling.
- Motivation: Team Members are more likely to repeat the action and push for future achievements.
This process “rewires” the brain to see hard work and progress as rewarding, making Team Members more eager to take on the next challenge.
Also, celebration isn’t just about individual motivation; it’s a social tool that strengthens teams. When a win is shared and celebrated collectively, it releases oxytocin, the “bonding hormone.” This enhances feelings of connection and belonging.
Leaders who make celebration a habit demonstrate to their teams that their efforts are seen and valued. This leads to:
- Increased Engagement: Team Members who feel recognized are far more likely to be engaged in their work.
- Improved Retention: A positive, appreciative work environment is a major factor in retaining talent.
- Enhanced Collaboration: When Team Members celebrate each other, it builds a foundation of trust and encouragement.
- Maintaining Momentum; Long-term goals can be daunting. It’s easy to lose enthusiasm when the finish line feels far away. Celebrating small wins is crucial for maintaining momentum. It breaks the journey down into a series of achievable milestones making it easier to maintain or increase momentum.
3 Ways to Build a Culture of Celebrating Small Wins
- Make Celebration a Habit
- Start meetings with a “Wins” Round: Start team meetings with a brief round where everyone shares a small win they’ve had since the last meeting. This can be anything from a successful client call to solving a tricky problem or helping a colleague. This shifts the focus from just tasks to positive reinforcement.
- Set milestones for projects: Break down large projects into smaller, measurable milestones. This gives the team more opportunities to celebrate along the way, helping everyone feel a sense of progress and accomplishment.
- Plan for celebration: Don’t let celebration be an afterthought. Schedule time for it, just as you would for any other task. Make it a non-negotiable part of your workflow.
- Focus on Specific, Meaningful Recognition
- Go beyond “good job”: When you acknowledge a win, be specific. Instead of a generic “good job,” be specific about the action taken and the impact it had.
- Celebrate the effort, not just the outcome: Not every effort leads to a successful outcome, but the hard work behind it still matters. Celebrate the courage to try, the willingness to learn, and the effort put into a difficult task. This builds a culture where Team Members aren’t afraid to take risks.
- Tell the story of success: Narrate the “before and after.” Describe the initial challenge, the effort that went into it, and the successful outcome. This makes the achievement more meaningful and helps Team Members see the value of their contribution.
- Connect Wins to the Bigger Picture
- Connect the win to the mission: Explain how a specific achievement moves the team closer to its larger goal. This gives the work purpose beyond a task list and helps Team Members see their role in the bigger picture.
The next time you and your team are tempted to focus only on the horizon, turn around and celebrate how far you’ve come. You—and your team—deserve it.
I could be wrong…but I’m not.