Celebrate the Wins (#180)
The playoffs — whether they are baseball or basketball — are an interesting construct for a team and its leaders. You win a game and you get to keep playing. You win a series and you get to move on and play another opponent. Keep winning and you may eventually win the whole thing. But along the way, you and your team get to celebrate the win of each game, the win of each series, and the excitement of making it to the next level. That’s a lot of celebrating the win.
The Atlanta Braves won the 2021 World Series by beating the Houston Astros 4 games to 2. But along the way they had to beat the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Divisional Series (3 games to 1) and the Los Angelas Dodgers in the National League Championship Series (4 games to 2). During their drive to the championship the Braves got to celebrate winning 11 games, as well as 3 different series.
But the corporate world is a different animal. How many times have you and your company celebrated 14 different wins in the space of a month? I know I haven’t seen it in business or the military. This difference between sports and business got me thinking about celebrating the win. And I encourage you to look for ways to celebrate the wins with your team.
Celebrate the Wins
There are nine reasons to Celebrate the Wins:
Celebrating the Win reminds you of the goal you set and why you set it in the first place.
It’s easy to forget why a goal was important, but when you forget the goal it removes all meaning from the task. When people remember why the work they do helps grow the business or improve the organization, they’re inspired to do more.
Celebrating the Win reminds you that a good, focused goal-setting process works.
You set the goal, create plans to achieve it, and accomplish the results you want. The process works! This not only delivers good results, but it inspires your team to set goals and plans to accomplish them in all areas of their work going forward
Celebrating the Win motivates your team to continue delivering good work.
Employees who feel appreciated and know their efforts have been noticed become even more productive with the next round of projects. One of the biggest causes of burnout in the workplace in lack of recognition. Celebrating the win is a step towards improving recognition for the team.
Celebrating the Win aligns the team around a positive outcome.
Positive results and the celebration afterwards can develop bonds within your team and help them work together better in the future.
Celebrating the Win reminds the team that they work for a winning organization.
People want to work for winners! I know I do. So, one of the greatest morale-builders that a leader can provide the team is the knowledge that they work for a successful company. Celebrate your wins whenever they happen.
Celebrating the Win encourages you and your team to concentrate on the positive rather than the negative.
Even if your company has taken some hits during the pandemic, there are still wins you can celebrate. Give your team a boost by celebrating and reminding them about the good things that are happening in the company.
Celebrating the Win builds momentum for you and your team.
When a success is celebrated, everyone is reminded that their ability to reach one specific goal. It helps to create a culture of improving 1% every day. And shows them that they have achieved a milestone on the road to even greater goals.
Celebrating the Win enables you to connect with colleagues and co-workers in a way that is not just work-related.
Once again, celebrating the win builds bonds between the team and between you and the team. The celebration helps the team know each other better in a different way from the normal day-to-day. The better knowledge builds bonds which foster better teamwork in the weeks and months ahead. It also helps you build a more personal connection with your team. This is challenging in the hybrid or remote work environment but still do-able.
Celebrating the Win allows you to reward specific employees.
There are great people behind the success of the team. Use the opportunity to reward your high performers. One of the biggest causes of burnout in the workplace in lack of recognition. Celebrating the win is a step towards improving recognition for individuals on the team.
Conclusion
Go on the offense and celebrate the wins by looking for opportunities to recognize the great things that happened in 2021 and the even better things that will happen in 2022