In the quest to harmonize the celebration of individual achievements with the acknowledgment of team efforts, we’ve gathered insights from CEOs and founders. From “Big Win Mondays” that kickstart the week with a bang to promoting teamwork over individual heroics, explore the twelve distinct strategies these leaders employ to strike the perfect balance.

  • Celebrate Wins with ‘Big Win Mondays’
  • Pair Individual Praise with Team Wins
  • Integrate Recognition into Daily Interactions
  • Highlight Achievements Quarterly and Collectively
  • Personalized Awards and Team Success Showcases
  • Public Shout Outs and Company-Wide Emails
  • Award Individual Excellence and Team Synergy
  • Quarterly Ceremonies for Individual and Team Awards
  • Link Individual Recognition to Team Effort
  • Success Stories Presentation Balances Recognition
  • Monthly ‘Empathy Spotlight’ Encourages Team Spirit
  • Promote Teamwork Over Individual Heroics

Celebrate Wins with ‘Big Win Mondays’

Did you know that happy employees are 12% more productive?

On the other hand, only 42% of employees are happy with the rewards and recognition offered by their companies. And when team members leave, the cost of that turnover is usually 30% of their salary in lost training time, sales, and loss of productivity.

Balancing individual achievements with team recognition is the cornerstone of building a thriving workplace culture. We’re dedicated to celebrating both the individual and collective efforts of our team. One of our key traditions is “Big Win Mondays.” Every Monday, without fail, we come together as a team to share and celebrate each member’s biggest achievement of the week. This practice not only highlights individual accomplishments but also strengthens our team bond by starting the week on a positive, uplifting note. It’s a tradition we never skip because we believe that celebrating wins keeps the momentum going.

In addition to weekly recognition, we place a huge emphasis on personal milestones. Birthdays are a paid day off because we believe in honoring life outside of work. And when team members hit their work anniversaries, they receive a personalized plaque for every year they’ve worked with us. It’s a simple gesture, but one that speaks volumes about how much we value their loyalty and contributions.

Quarterly, we hold in-person meetings to celebrate the successes of the previous quarter, reflecting on our achievements and planning ahead using the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS). These gatherings offer the perfect opportunity to highlight both individual and team contributions, reinforcing the sense of camaraderie and shared purpose.

As Simon Sinek often says, “Leadership is not about being in charge. It’s about taking care of those in your charge.” This resonates deeply with me, especially given my past experience with a toxic boss who showed no care for his team—he would come into work drunk and high, creating an environment so toxic I left after just three months. That experience shaped my leadership philosophy; now, all I do is care for my team. My focus is on creating a workplace where every individual feels valued and recognized.

When employees feel seen, heard, and appreciated, they perform at their best and are far more likely to stay with the company long-term. Recognizing and celebrating individual and team success is not just good for morale—it’s good for business.

Trevor RappleyeTrevor Rappleye
CEO & Storyteller, FranchiseFilming

Pair Individual Praise with Team Wins

Balancing individual achievements with team contributions is all about recognizing the bigger picture while still giving credit where it’s due. What’s worked well for us is a two-tiered approach. First, we make a point to celebrate individual successes in a way that highlights how those achievements tie into the team’s overall goals. For example, when someone hits a major milestone—whether it’s landing a big client or completing a challenging project—we recognize their efforts during team meetings, but we also emphasize how their work has helped move the entire team forward.

One successful approach we’ve used is pairing individual recognition with team wins. Let’s say someone excels in a marketing campaign. We’ll acknowledge their personal contribution while also spotlighting the collaboration involved—whether that’s from the design team, analytics, or even sales. This method not only gives individuals their moment but also reminds everyone that success is rarely achieved in isolation. It keeps the focus on the collective effort while still appreciating the unique talents of each team member.

Michael LazarMichael Lazar
CEO, Content Author

Integrate Recognition into Daily Interactions

We believe that recognition should be an ongoing conversation, not a once-a-month event. So, instead of a formal “Spotlight” program, we weave appreciation for individual and team efforts into the fabric of our daily interactions.

For instance, during team meetings, we take a moment to acknowledge specific individuals who have gone above and beyond, highlighting their contributions and thanking them publicly. We also encourage peer-to-peer recognition through tools like Slack, where team members can give shout-outs to their colleagues for a job well done.

But it’s not just about verbal praise. We also recognize achievements through tangible rewards, like gift cards, extra time off, or even personalized notes of appreciation. These small gestures go a long way in showing our team that their hard work is noticed and valued.

Michael GargiuloMichael Gargiulo
Founder, CEO, VPN.com

Highlight Achievements Quarterly and Collectively

Celebrating individual achievements is essential, and so is recognizing the contributions your team has collectively made. If the two are not properly balanced, individuals and teams alike will feel under-appreciated. While I do recognize individual and team accomplishments right when they happen, I also like to make sure to highlight them at the close of the quarter to be sure each individual and the team as a whole can see how much of an impact their contributions have made.

To accomplish this, I like to hold quarterly team events to celebrate the individual accomplishments and overall team contributions that have been achieved over the last quarter. This is a great way to celebrate together and ensure that everyone feels appreciated.

John HallJohn Hall
Co-Founder, Calendar.com

Personalized Awards and Team Success Showcases

Balancing individual achievements with team contributions involves acknowledging personal milestones while highlighting the collective effort that makes success possible. For example, when our team launched a major project successfully, we held a recognition event where we celebrated individual contributions with personalized awards and also showcased how each role was crucial to the team’s overall success. This approach not only motivated individuals but also reinforced the importance of teamwork, leading to a more cohesive and driven organization.

Jerwayne CorsinoJerwayne Corsino
Chief Operating Officer, SAFC

Public Shout Outs and Company-Wide Emails

It’s important to recognize both the standout efforts of individuals and the collaborative success of a team, and that’s exactly where the balance comes from—by acknowledging both. We do this in a number of ways.

For team “wins,” we like to circulate a company-wide email, recognizing the success they have had, while also giving them the chance to celebrate among themselves through a company-sponsored dinner or other activity. For individuals, we have a different practice, in which any employee who has had an impressive or particularly positive experience with another employee can give them a “shout out” on their internal company profile, which is visible to everyone.

This way, everyone gets opportunities to stand out and be celebrated for the work they bring to the table, and because this recognition is public, it also contributes to the yearly reviews where we can reward outstanding performances accordingly.

Alexandru SamoilaAlexandru Samoila
Head of Operations, Connect Vending

Award Individual Excellence and Team Synergy

In our company, we believe that individual achievements and team contributions are equally important. To balance celebrating both, we have implemented a “Project MVP” award for each completed project. This award recognizes the individual who went above and beyond in their role, demonstrating exceptional skills, dedication, and leadership.

However, we also make sure to celebrate the teamwork and collaboration that led to the project’s success. We acknowledge that the MVP’s achievements would not have been possible without the support and efforts of the entire team. Each team member plays a crucial role, and their contributions, no matter how small, are essential to the project’s overall success.

By recognizing both individual excellence and team synergy, we foster a culture that values personal growth and development while emphasizing the importance of working together towards a common goal. This approach has proven successful in boosting morale, productivity, and job satisfaction among our employees, ultimately leading to better results for our clients and the growth of our company.

Tyler PooleTyler Poole
Owner, White Oaks Construction

Quarterly Ceremonies for Individual and Team Awards

At our company, we have a quarterly awards ceremony. We recognize individual achievements with specific awards, such as “Employee of the Quarter” or “Outstanding Contribution.” However, we also have team awards to celebrate collaborative successes, such as “Team of the Quarter” or “Best Project Team.” This approach ensures that everyone feels valued and appreciated, regardless of their role or position within the company. By balancing individual and team recognition, we can foster a positive and motivating work environment that encourages collaboration, innovation, and high performance.

Beth WorthyBeth Worthy
Cofounder and President, GMR Transcription Services, Inc.

Link Individual Recognition to Team Effort

I believe in the importance of both celebrating individual achievements and recognizing team contributions, as both are essential to our success. The key to balancing these is to ensure that individual accomplishments are acknowledged in a way that also highlights the collective effort behind them.

For instance, when one of our property managers recently achieved a record-high occupancy rate for a particularly challenging property, we took the time to celebrate their success. We acknowledged their dedication, innovative approach, and the extra hours they put in. However, during the same recognition, I made sure to highlight the support they received from the entire team—from the marketing staff who developed targeted campaigns to the maintenance crew who ensured the property was in top condition.

To reinforce this balance, I’ve implemented a practice where individual recognition is always tied back to the broader team effort. In this case, while the property manager was the star of the achievement, it was clear that their success was made possible by the collaboration and hard work of everyone involved. This not only ensures that individual efforts are appreciated but also fosters a sense of unity and shared purpose among the team.

Additionally, we hold regular team meetings where we celebrate collective milestones, such as reaching company-wide goals or successfully launching a new service. During these meetings, we take the opportunity to acknowledge specific contributions that made the achievement possible, ensuring that everyone feels valued.

This approach helps maintain a positive and motivated work environment, where both individual excellence and teamwork are recognized and celebrated. It reinforces the idea that while individual efforts are crucial, our greatest successes come from working together as a cohesive unit.

Samantha EastonSamantha Easton
Chief Executive Officer, Blue Diamond Sales & Rentals, Inc

Success Stories Presentation Balances Recognition

We’ve found that celebrating individual achievements while recognizing team contributions requires creating a culture where both aspects thrive simultaneously.

During our quarterly reviews, we do a “Success Stories” presentation. Each team member is invited to highlight one personal achievement but must also acknowledge how another colleague contributed to their success. This creates an effect where individual accomplishments are celebrated, but always within the context of team collaboration.

For example, during a recent product launch, our lead engineer was recognized for meeting a tight deadline with a critical feature. However, during the “Success Stories,” she credited the marketing and customer support teams for gathering user feedback and refining the product roadmap in record time. It wasn’t just about what she did but how everyone’s input played a role in achieving the milestone.

This approach promotes a shared sense of purpose, ensuring that individual and team efforts are not viewed in isolation. It creates a culture where personal wins naturally shine within the context of broader team contributions. Not only does this boost morale, but it also reinforces the value of collaboration across departments—making everyone feel valued and integral to the company’s success.

Raviraj HegdeRaviraj Hegde
Svp of Growth & Sales, Donorbox

Monthly ‘Empathy Spotlight’ Encourages Team Spirit

We’ve found that striking the right balance between celebrating individual achievements and recognizing team contributions is crucial for maintaining morale and fostering a collaborative environment. We’ve developed an approach to highlight personal wins while emphasizing how they contribute to our collective success.

Our monthly “Empathy Spotlight” meeting is one specific example of our approach. This is a company-wide virtual gathering where we showcase outstanding work and milestones. Here’s how we structure it:

  • Individual Shout-outs: We start by highlighting notable individual achievements. This could be anything from a team member closing a big deal to someone solving a particularly tricky technical problem. We make sure to explain how their work impacts the broader team and our clients.
  • Team Project Showcases: Next, we have different project teams present their recent accomplishments. This gives everyone visibility into what’s happening across the company and allows us to celebrate collective efforts.
  • Peer Nominations: We encourage team members to nominate their colleagues for recognition. This fosters a culture of appreciation and helps surface achievements that management might not always see.
  • Client Feedback Sharing: We read out positive feedback from clients, connecting it to the individuals and teams involved. This reinforces the impact of our work on those we serve.
  • Goal Progress Updates: We review progress on company-wide goals, tying individual and team efforts to our broader objectives.
  • Open Mic Moment: We end with an open floor where anyone can share kudos or stories about their colleagues. This often leads to spontaneous celebrations of cross-team collaboration or behind-the-scenes support.

One particular success story that stands out occurred when we launched a complex digital campaign for a healthcare client. The project involved multiple teams: strategy, content, design, and development.

During our Empathy Spotlight, we first recognized the project manager who kept everything on track despite numerous challenges. We then had each team lead highlight a standout contributor from their group, explaining how their work was crucial to the project’s success.

Daniel LynchDaniel Lynch
Digital Agency Owner, Empathy First Media | Digital Marketing & PR

Promote Teamwork Over Individual Heroics

The world needs fewer heroes. When we think about the amount of work that one person can do versus the amount of work that a skilled team, working together as a system, can accomplish, it brings meaning to this statement.

In many corporate cultures, we still have a “promote on task delivery” metric for promotions. What is missing in these metrics is how these tasks are getting accomplished. This is why it is very important to recognize both the individual and the team.

If the individual accomplishes the tasks without considering the team, by hurting the team members, by blocking them out, or by any other divisive means, the team may still be rewarded, but that team member must be addressed as an individual member of a team.

Respect for people is a foundational element of transformation. When individuals violate this, it damages the team, even if we meet our goals—and that is bad for business.

Jason NealJason Neal
Lean Leader