Watching any sporting event live or on television, you'll see athletes celebrating—football players dancing after touchdowns, soccer players tearing off their shirts after goals, volleyball teams gathering to celebrate a rally win. In contrast, workplace successes often go unacknowledged, even though they're equally deserving of celebration. Why do athletes get all the fun?
There are several reasons people aren’t as expressive about workplace successes. Many projects take months or years to complete, and by the time success is declared, team members may be exhausted. Unlike sports, work achievements rarely have a clear “finish line” moment. For example, closing a major contract usually starts a new phase rather than signals an endpoint. Additionally, multiple projects often demand attention at once, making it hard to pause for celebration.
Still, celebrating successes is valuable. Here are some ways to do it:
Take a Victory Lap
Small celebrations help recognize how daily efforts combine into bigger accomplishments. Enjoying your work may feel rewarding, but marking your achievements with a ritual creates a moment to savor success. You might review key milestones that led to the win. These celebrations don’t always need to be public. Highlighting great outcomes in emails or social media is good, but private routines, like updating your CV or personal records of achievements, can also help you enjoy the moment before moving on.
Be a Good Example
Leaders must set the tone by celebrating wins openly. Publicly acknowledging team successes in meetings, emails, or posts encourages a culture that values celebration. Sharing how you personally recognize your accomplishments can also inspire your team to develop their own positive habits.
Celebrate Efforts, Not Just Results
Public celebrations are opportunities to highlight the behaviors behind success, not just the outcomes. Recognize qualities like perseverance or excellent teamwork to show that how you achieve goals matters as much as the goals themselves. This also helps new team members feel valued and visible.
By embracing these practices, workplaces can foster a positive environment where achievements are joyfully recognized just like in sports.