Why it matters
Recognition cultures grow from consistent daily habits, not annual awards. Giving recognition is also strongly linked to being trusted — especially when it is specific and given repeatedly to close collaborators.
How to run it
- Start meetings with a win. Open with: "Who did something worth noticing this week?" Spend three minutes having people name a colleague and a specific contribution.
- Send one thank-you before lunch. Set an 11:30 reminder and send one specific thank-you. Anchor it to something you already do, like your morning coffee.
- Copy their manager in. When you thank a peer, add their manager with a line saying you wanted them to know. Especially valuable for remote colleagues.
- End the day with a 60-second review. Who made your work easier or taught you something today? Note them for tomorrow's thank-you.
- Recognise the same people repeatedly. Choose three close collaborators and make recognising them a weekly priority — while still noticing the wider team.
Start with one habit. Practise it for two weeks before adding the next.
Related: Weekly Wins · Top-Three Spotlight
Watch out for
- Starting all five at once — add one habit every two weeks
- Generic thanks; specific takes only 15 seconds more
