How to recognize and celebrate your teams this holiday season

The end of the year is a time to strengthen company culture through recognition and celebration. Yet with teams wrapping up the final quarter, and many balancing the holiday rush, work stress is inevitable. Your recognition strategy was built for moments like these.

We know recognition has a significant impact on retention and performance. Feeling appreciated motivates 80% of employees to work harder, and organizations with recognition saw a 14% bump in productivity than those without.

Gratitude should be year-round, but it might not be a priority during busy seasons like the holidays. During that final sprint, don't lose sight of recognition and company culture. It's a great time to celebrate your people.

1. Reflect on the year’s successes

The last quarter is a great time to remind team members about the year's key achievements, both individual or team-wide. Recognize the team members who organized that town hall event during the spring. Reflect on individual performance goals from January. Share specific examples of when an employee pushed themselves to grow from Q3.

Expressing gratitude for the year's wins puts everything into perspective. It can empower employees as they gear up for a new year, setting a tone of appreciation and motivation.

2. Personalize appreciation

Avoid making generic recognitions. In the same way that the best holiday gifts are unique to the receiver, personalized recognition is more meaningful. Including specific details feels more authentic and shows the recipient that you truly see and value their contributions.

Tell a story about a time when this person or team really stood out. They might have done something tied back to a core value. Maybe they went above and beyond for a customer, or they always bring a positive attitude to their day to day. Give details about how their actions pushed the team to success.

Those details not only feel more significant to the team member receiving the recognition, but it can foster employer loyalty.

3. Host engagement activities

Many organizations host an in-person or virtual holiday party this time of year. However, teams might not meet up socially until these events. Host employee engagement activities to build up anticipation and encourage inter-department bonding. These moments create shared experiences and a deeper sense of belonging, building stronger workplace connections.

Brainstorm initiatives that encourage employees to work together. Things like virtual escape rooms or murder mystery puzzles can be fun and collaborative while also competitive. Fitness activities like step challenges or virtual yoga sessions create group accountability and help employees combat stress.

4. Share thoughtful gifts and rewards

Tokens of gratitude speak volumes. Employees might not expect a gift during the holiday season, so going above and beyond with a tangible reward can feel more personal. Giving a team member a gift is great for building loyalty and expressing deep connection.

Yet finding the right gift for a teammate can be difficult at times. Gift cards to coffee shops or popular stores are always a great option. Festive snack boxes are fun and can easily be sent to remote team members. Organizations could also set up an online storefront. Employees can pick the perfect gift from options like branded merchandise, gift cards and other high-end gifts.

Gifts are a nice surprise for any receiver, and they add a special element to recognition during the holiday season.

5. Encourage Peer Recognition

Coworkers see each other's daily struggles and growth up close, so peer recognition can often feel extra meaningful. Increased peer recognition boosts camaraderie and creates a sense of trust. It can be a catalyst for a more collaborative, supportive workplace.

Kick-off peer recognition for the season with a small peer recognition challenge. Have managers and leaders set the example by crafting team members' recognitions, either personally or through an employee engagement platform. Then give employees prompts or examples to help them craft thoughtful recognitions. You can also make it fun. Challenge employees to recognize another teammate each day for a week or ask employees to send out recognitions based on company core values.

Put your people first and prioritize employee recognition this season

Recognition during the holiday season can help teams mitigate that end-of-the-year stress. When employees feel seen and their work appreciated, they're more likely to perform better and collaborate more with one another. A win for strengthening team bonds.

The holidays are also a great time to reflect on the past year, and leadership and peers can give that shoutout to a team member for a win from earlier in the year or growth they've seen over the past few months.

Gratitude should be year-round, but the end of the year especially is a great opportunity to engage workers and lean into the holiday spirit. It sets a positive tone as your team starts looking towards the future.

Give your team the morale boost it needs this season. Check out these 12 Virtual Holiday Team Building Activities to Engage and Motivate Your Team