Do you remember the last time you were publicly praised at work?
I do. And I remember exactly how good it felt — which is probably why I couldn't stop thinking about how rarely it happens.
We finish one task and jump straight to the next — the PR review, the meeting, the deadline. Appreciation doesn't get cancelled, it just always seems to wait.
When we were structuring our weekly Tech & Code session, I added one fixed item that has nothing to do with tech: Kudos.
Anyone can give a shoutout to anyone. A fast PR review. Helping organize a team event. Bringing homemade cake. Great team presentation.
I added it after talking with the team. What surprised me was how often we hear "It's so nice to have you. Thank you.". Hearing appreciation out loud, in front of everyone, lands very differently than a quiet "thanks" in a team message.
Does your team have a real ritual for public recognition?
This is part of my "100 Days of Year One" series. Follow along as I share what I've learned in my first year as Head of Data and Cloud.