The importance of celebrating successes.

On Saturday, I spent time with my husband and dogs to walk some hiking trails a few miles from our home. Haakon got little Momo into his blue and rainbow harness, and his mom, Moka into her cute pink harness that shines against her caramel-colored coat.  We wound our way through the trees, over roots and along the shrub-lined trail.  The sun dropped dappled light through the canopy of Douglas fir trees and onto the tangled chaos of the underbrush. Moka, part chihuahua, papillon and hound, stopped at every new smell, which meant I had plenty of time to stop and listen. As I stood there, birds of every kind sang a riot of songs – so many and so happy.  They were celebrating the sun, which was finally out after weeks of dull, grey rain.  The birds were a reminder to enjoy and celebrate.  A reminder that as leaders, we need to take the time to slow down, savor the victory and celebrate!  

But how many leaders don’t?  It’s easy to forget to celebrate and move on to the next thing when your plate is overloaded. I understand because I am not perfect. I have not always recognized the right moments to celebrate. Sometimes, I have just overlooked them without noticing.  But now, more and more, I relish those moments. They’re a powerful connector for teams.

Angeles Arrien, the legendary cross-cultural anthropologist, wrote a lot about love, including about platonic love at work.  She learned in her research that there are six ways we express love cross-culturally around the world. They are called the Arms of Love: gratitude, acceptance, recognition, validation, laughter and play.  The more these qualities are present, the more loved we feel.  A celebration is a team ritual made up of all six of those things. It’s powerful.
 
What are some ways to celebrate? Here are a few ideas:

• Say something.  At a most basic level, just pointing out an accomplishment can help someone feel recognized and validated for their work.
• Have dinner together.  Whether it’s in a fancy restaurant or a backyard BBQ, the time together is what matters. Be sure to take a moment to note why you’re celebrating together.
• Write a thank you card.  When you see someone do something worth celebrating, send a card.
• Get someone a gift.  It can be a small gift card or something thoughtful that reminds you of the person.

 
If this topic resonates with you, there are a lot of good reads about the importance of celebration at work. Here’s what I am reading:

• Why Companies Need Ceremonies by Patti Sanchez for Harvard Business Review. 
• The Power of Celebrating Success in the Workplace by Frayda Liebtag for Forbes
• Celebrate to Win by Whitney Johnson for Harvard Business Review

This week savor every moment, listen to the birds and remember to celebrate! I will, too.
 
All My Best,
Brenna

I love to write and share my passion for purpose driven leadership. Download your copy of my Purpose Power worksheet, which is designed to connect you with your own unique purpose. 
Or subscribe to get this delivered straight into your inbox!