Tuesday, March 25, 2025

Beyond the Milestones

In the workplace, it’s important to also recognize the small things

By Janice Haanstra, Research & Education Specialist

Recognition is the acknowledgement or validation of someone’s achievements or contributions. In the workplace, it may take the form of a congratulatory email or a team meeting shout-out after the successful launch or completion of a project or initiative.

It might involve more formal recognition programs to celebrate work anniversaries, or someone’s name on the wall as employee of the month. There are lots of great ways to celebrate workplace achievements and milestones.

While these celebrations are worth having, I’ve lately witnessed the particular value of recognizing others for the small ways their words or actions impact others.

This year, to mark International Women’s Day, CLAC’s internal Women’s Advisory Council initiated a week-long recognition campaign, inviting our staff to give written shout-outs to one another for the ways in which they support or empower the women around them. You may have seen the social media campaign that spotlighted a number of CLAC members who are doing that same important work in their own workplaces.

People’s engagement in the campaign was remarkable. We received over 140 submissions!

People shared stories of how other staff members had inspired them, reached out to them when they were having a hard day, encouraged them to go after what they wanted, taught them new things, welcomed them, challenged them, supported them, etc.

These “little” things weren’t in fact little—they were very meaningful to those on the receiving end of them. Reading through the shout-outs, I was proud of the people I work with, and I felt more connected to them.

Showing appreciation for these things also matters. It’s easy to remember to say, “job well done!” to someone after they’ve invested months into a project, but we can sometimes overlook or take for granted the so-called little things, like someone taking the time to follow up after a tough conversation or encouraging you to take on a new challenge.

Recognizing people for the positive, everyday impact they have on others around them makes them feel seen and appreciated. This type of recognition values them for who they are as a person (and coworker), beyond their formal work achievements.

So, I encourage you to keep recognizing the accomplishments of your team and celebrating the milestones. But while you do, remember to reflect on all the “little” ways your coworkers or your team have brought you to those moments. Don’t hesitate to tell them what those things have meant to you!

Beyond the Milestones

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