Ever wondered how top leaders celebrate employee milestones without making a big splash? According to a CEO, personalized gestures can make all the difference, while staying updated on employee achievements is a must, says another CEO. In this article, seven experts share their insights on handling low-key recognition in a respectful and personalized manner. Read on to discover all unique strategies.

  • Opt for Personalized Gestures
  • Offer Private, Heartfelt Appreciation
  • Deliver Personal Notes of Appreciation
  • Tailor Celebrations to Individual Interests
  • Utilize Anonymous Recognition
  • Choose Informal Recognition Options
  • Stay Updated on Employee Achievements

Opt for Personalized Gestures

We respect each employee’s preference for recognition. For those who prefer low-key celebrations, we opt for personalized gestures. For example, when an employee reached a significant milestone, we organized a private lunch with their team and presented a handwritten note expressing our appreciation. This approach allowed us to celebrate their achievement in a way that felt meaningful and comfortable for them, ensuring they felt valued without the pressure of a public event.

Justin SmithJustin Smith
CEO, Contractor+


Offer Private, Heartfelt Appreciation

For employees who prefer low-key recognition, we focus on more personal and subtle ways to celebrate their milestones. One approach that has worked well is offering private, heartfelt appreciation through handwritten notes or a one-on-one meeting with a manager.

For example, when one of our team members completed a major project but preferred to stay out of the spotlight, we organized a small gathering over coffee. We thanked them privately for their contributions and presented a handwritten note expressing our gratitude. This personalized, low-key approach respects their preferences while still making them feel valued, leading to stronger employee engagement without overwhelming them.

Chaitsi AhujaChaitsi Ahuja
Founder & CEO, Brown Living


Deliver Personal Notes of Appreciation

For those who prefer low-key recognition, we often opt for personal notes of appreciation from myself or direct supervisors that acknowledge their specific contributions in a meaningful yet understated manner. These notes are not just emails; they’re handwritten, delivered with a small token of appreciation, like their favorite snack or a book related to a hobby they enjoy. It’s a way to show our appreciation privately, aligning with their comfort while making them feel valued on a personal level.

Recently, one of our team members reached a 10-year work anniversary, a significant milestone that she preferred to keep quiet. Respecting her wishes, we arranged for a deluxe care package to be sent to her home, filled with items that cater to her interests—gourmet coffee, a bestselling book in her favorite genre, and a cozy throw blanket. This gesture was personal and thoughtful, recognizing her decade of service in a way that spoke directly to her tastes and personality.

Alari AhoAlari Aho
CEO and Founder, Toggl Inc


Tailor Celebrations to Individual Interests

If team members are looking for a less-public acknowledgement, I think it’s important to tailor their celebration to their own interests and the type of work they do for us. For example, we might have a team member who cares a lot about growth but doesn’t like the limelight. And when they accomplish a significant milestone, rather than throw a big bash or grand statement, we can put them in a selective workshop or seminar of their choosing.

We recently did this for a long-time employee, a developer. They’d wanted to go to a specific advanced coding bootcamp, so that was a bit of a gamble. To honor them on their anniversary, we paid for this bootcamp. We gave it out anonymously—with a very short card that was signed by the entire team and expressed our appreciation to the developer for all their efforts. Such a solution not only left the team member feeling valued in a meaningful way but also enabled them to continue their professional development (which is something that we hold very high at Cohort XIII).

Lydia ValentineLydia Valentine
Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer, Cohort XIII LLC


Utilize Anonymous Recognition

For employees who prefer not to be in the spotlight, we acknowledge their contributions by sharing their impact with the team but without revealing their identity. For example, we once had a team member who made a significant improvement to our automation algorithm but didn’t want to be publicly credited. Instead, during a company update, we highlighted the achievement as a collective success, attributing it to an unnamed “team champion.” Behind the scenes, we sent a private note of appreciation and gifted a personalized item based on their interests.

This method ensures that the employee feels valued without the discomfort of public recognition while still fostering a sense of team spirit. We also give them the opportunity to select a non-work-related reward, like a hobby-related gift or experience, ensuring the celebration feels personal and meaningful. This creates a balance between acknowledging their work and respecting their preferences.

Dinesh AgarwalDinesh Agarwal
Founder, CEO, RecurPost


Choose Informal Recognition Options

When we teach leaders in our programs how to recognize employees in meaningful ways, we explain the four different types of recognition: public and formal, public and informal, private and formal, and private and informal.

For an employee who prefers low-key recognition, you would want to choose one of the informal recognition options. In our workshops, we have been surprised to find that most people prefer this informal style of recognition. If it is informal and private, this could include thank-you notes, small gifts and tokens of appreciation, or simply a personal compliment. If the recognition is informal and public, this could include a small shoutout at a team meeting, a team lunch or outing, or being mentioned in a team email. These will make this employee feel seen and valued while not overwhelming them.

Bailey ParnellBailey Parnell
Founder & CEO, SkillsCamp


Stay Updated on Employee Achievements

Staying in touch on a personal yet professional level with employees at least once a month, if not more frequently, and staying updated with their obstacles, struggles, and achievements.

This approach enables us to recognize not just the milestones they’ve reached but also the effort they’ve put in along the way, ensuring that recognition is both timely and meaningful.

Davor RapicDavor Rapic
CEO, Advertikal