Why Celebrating on Teams Matters
The town I live in opted to forego 4th of July fireworks this year, replacing the annual event with end of the fair fireworks on July 8. What I noticed over the course of the 4th was that something felt like it was missing. When we settled in to watch the fireworks several days late, I put my finger on what was missing – the official close to the 4th – fireworks! This reminded me of teams and how important celebrating on teams can be for all of us.
Celebrate With Your Team
Most of us have been on teams that go, go, go. We accomplish loads of things, but rarely do we pause to celebrate our successes. This is what the past 4th of July felt like for me. We went, went, went and did the usual stuff, but we never fully closed out the holiday until July 8. Our teams need closure on our projects. They need to pause and celebrate and here’s why.
The Why
- Celebrating helps us acknowledge the skills it took to accomplish our goals. We pause, think, and realize there are many people to thank along the way for the progress we’ve made. It’s when people on our team feel appreciated, they feel most engaged. When we don’t celebrate, we miss the opportunity to engage our teams and prepare them for the next accomplishment.
2. Celebrating gives us pause, not only to thank our teammates, but gives us pause to see how far we’ve come. For many years, I felt this crazy sense that I hadn’t done enough. As an entrepreneur, there’s always more to do. I had this weight on my shoulders that it was never enough. I was never enough.
Then a friend said, “Sarah, look at what you’ve done in the past 5 years. Stop and think about where you were and where you are now. Celebrate that. It’s not only enough, it’s more than enough.” Her reminder gave me permission to live in the moment and realize it was good. Really good.
3. Celebrating allows us to breathe. Our 4th of July fireworks celebration is a chance for us to hang out with friends and family. It’s a chance for us to enjoy one another’s company. When our teams always strive for accomplishment, we forego the benefits of enjoying the people on our team. It’s the breath of air we need before we take on the next task.
Focus On People
It’s a chance for us to focus on people, not task – and that’s what will matter in the end. Not what we accomplished, but who did we support and influence. Celebration is the breath that gives life to those around us.
This coming week represents a celebration for me. My family and I will be attending the National Speakers Association Influence Conference, where I’ll be receiving my Certified Speaking Professional award. Awesome! While I’m excited to attend the conference, I want this to be a moment of pause, breath and celebration for this accomplishment in my career.
What do you need to celebrate? How can you help your team see where they’ve been, what they’ve done, and how grateful you are for them?
