“Let’s take the entire team out for lunch,” “let’s cut a cake for everyone born in the same month,” or “let’s drink together” — these are still some of the go-to ways to celebrate a special occasion in today’s corporate world. And sure, they can be fun. But are they meaningful?
In our experience of working with hundreds of teams and leaders across industries, we’ve seen that celebrations that land well are not the ones with the most glitz, but the ones with the most thought behind them.
The importance of celebration in the workplace isn’t new. Kouzes and Posner’s iconic leadership guide, The Leadership Challenge, names “Celebrate the Values and Victories” as a core leadership practice. But over time, we’ve also noticed something else — while leaders don’t forget to celebrate, they often miss the deeper intent behind it.
A well-planned celebration has the power to reinforce values, boost morale, deepen relationships, and create lasting memories. So before planning your next celebration — whether it’s a birthday, a work anniversary, a project milestone, or a team win — pause and reflect on these 5 questions.
Here are 5 questions that every leader must answer before planning a celebration.
1. Am I noticing enough?
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Source: wikimedia
At Sea World trainers make a 1-ton killer whale jump little over 3 feet above the surface. They achieve this daunting task by appreciating the whales (by offering the food they love) whenever they go over a rope placed under water. Trainers never fail to notice whenever a whale crosses that rope. Then, little by little they shift the rope that ultimately goes a few feet above water and they get those whales do the impossible.
Have you missed any act that is worth celebrating?
What’s the learning here?
In our workshops, we’ve often asked leaders: “Can you name three small wins your team achieved in the last week?” Most struggle to answer. This isn’t a criticism — it’s just a reminder that noticing the everyday effort is a skill that needs practice.
Don’t wait for the whale-sized jump. Celebrate the first splash.
Related Read: Who is packing your parachute?
2. What Should We Celebrate?
This question reveals an organizational mindset. Do you celebrate only outcomes — or do you celebrate intent, progress, and effort too?
Think of Challengers (2024), where characters push themselves beyond what they thought was possible — even if they didn’t always win. In corporate life, too, effort deserves recognition. Because effort, when noticed and appreciated, is often what fuels the next breakthrough.
We’ve noticed that when teams celebrate effort — not just results — they create a safer space for risk-taking and innovation. And that’s where growth happens.
What do you celebrate more often – results or effort? We often hear that we never fail: we always learn and grow even with unsuccessful attempts. So, what if a teammate puts forth exceptional effort to do his best and doesn’t get an immediate result? Can’t his effort alone be a reason to celebrate and set the right example for others? When in doubt, just think about the whale trainers of Sea World. Every appreciation has a snowball effect.
3. Is It Unique?
Generic celebrations feel… well, generic. But meaningful ones don’t have to be grand or expensive. They just have to be thoughtful.
One of our clients in the power sector holds a huge workforce at their power plant. Their HR team does something really special to touch their employees’ hearts. On a birthday of every employee sharp at 8:00 am they send a bouquet of flowers along with a cake that has a personalized message highlighting the achievements of that person. This lovely gesture lets the entire family know how important the person is for the company. This one act is a sure fire way to make the employee feel good even before he or she reaches the office.
These are the kinds of moments that stick.
4. Who All Should Be Involved?
Celebrations often focus only on the person being recognized — but what about the people behind the scenes?
Last year, we had hectic official travel schedule and most of our team members were away from their families for a long stretch of back-to-back travel. When I returned home I received a warm hug from my partner. Of course it wasn’t the first time when I was hugged but that day there was something special in that. Later, I learned that my wife received a handwritten note from my director mentioning,
“Thank You Aarti, without your support and patience we wouldn’t have done this.”
This one gesture emotionally pushed me to give my best back to my organization.
We cannot overstate the emotional power of this gesture. It built not just loyalty, but love.
Involving families, peers, juniors, and cross-functional teams in a celebration sends a powerful message: “You matter. Your role matters.”
5. Thinking About A Direct Message?
Every celebration carries an implicit message. The question is: is it the right one?
These celebrations create magical memories, unforgettable stories, and reasons for people to be their best. This extraordinary feeling fizzes out when leaders try to deliver a direct message that reflects their transactional expectations. As a leader your job is to create an enchanted moment for your teammates and just leave them with that feeling. Have patience and you will see them paddling hard to give you the best in return.
Bonus Reflection: Are We Creating Culture Through Celebration?
In our team’s work with clients, we’ve seen that celebrations are not just feel-good events. They are cultural interventions. Every time you celebrate effort over perfection, team wins over individual heroics, inclusion over hierarchy — you reinforce the kind of culture you want to build.
So go ahead and ask yourself:
- Are your celebrations inclusive?
- Are you celebrating only the loudest voices?
- Are you reinforcing your company’s values through these moments?
Related Read: Culture is the engine that drives the train
Final Thoughts
At the heart of it, we all want to be seen, valued, and remembered. A celebration — no matter how small — is a chance to do just that.
In our experience, the most powerful celebrations are:
- Personal (not templated)
- Timely (not delayed)
- Meaningful (not mechanical)
To all HR teams, L&D professionals, and leaders out there — we know celebrations take time and energy to plan. But trust us, the return on that emotional investment is worth it.
Whether you’re planning your next offsite, townhall, or team appreciation day, remember: a well-crafted celebration can go a long way in shaping how people feel about the place they work.
And people who feel celebrated? They show up with heart.
Let’s keep building organizations where people aren’t just productive — they’re proud to belong.
