If you want your employee engagement and performance to grow, your team needs to feel seen, appreciated, and recognized for their efforts. And, as a manager, that means letting them know you see, appreciate, and recognize them.
In other words, it's vital to make employee recognition a priority. We know you're busy, so we put together some words of appreciation and examples for common situations that call for recognition.
It’s important to recognize your employees on a regular basis. But finding the time to come up with what to say can be challenging.
Use the employee recognition examples in this article as inspiration for expressing gratitude and showing your entire team they're valued.
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Key takeaways:
- Recognition is at the heart of employee engagement. When managers, peers, and leaders show appreciation for good performance, efforts, and participation, employees are more motivated to excel.
- Managers can use the employee recognition examples provided in this article as inspiration to customize and create their own messages of appreciation.
- There are additional ways to create a culture of recognition at work — from company-wide acknowledgments, employee awards, moments of celebration, and professional development opportunities.
Employee recognition messages examples
As a manager, we get that you might not have extra time in your day to plan elaborate employee recognition ideas. However, quick words of appreciation can have a huge and positive impact. The employee appreciation messages listed here are meant to serve as inspiration. We recommend adding your own personal touch rather than copying and pasting generic recognition messages.
Messages for top performance
Giving a nod to great work makes employees feel seen and valued, and helps keep them motivated. If they put in the notable effort, or go the extra mile to get results, showing appreciation is always warranted. Whether you’re continually impressed or an employee has started to really stand out, giving them the shoutout they deserve is never a bad shout.
💡 Here are a few employee recognition examples you could share with someone on your team whose performance calls for some shine:
- “Your outstanding performance is an inspiration to us all. Keep up the amazing work!”
- “Thank you for always putting your best foot forward! Your performance is always top-notch, even when you take on more work.”
- “You’ve really raised the bar this quarter. A performance like yours is a huge asset to the whole team.”
Messages for reaching goals
Employee goal-setting is an important part of helping your entire team reach their full potential. But setting goals is only one part of the process. If you want to keep your employees motivated, you need to recognize (and celebrate!) when they achieve those goals.
💡 Here are a few employee recognition examples you might use after they hit one of their goals:
- “There was never a doubt in my mind you'd accomplish this, but now that you have, I just want to say congratulations on hitting your goal!”
- “Incredible job hitting this goal! You really knocked it out of the park.”
- “You consistently impress me with your ability to not only set ambitious goals but to achieve them.”
Messages for teamwork
For an entire team to function, every member has to do their part to contribute to the company’s success. But for some team members, simply showing up and doing their job isn't enough. They go above and beyond what their role calls for while supporting their coworkers and elevating the team.
And those team members deserve some serious recognition.
💡 Here are examples of messages that recognize team members who exceed expectations and contribute to the team above and beyond their roles:
- “Thanks for your contribution today. You went above and beyond and the team really appreciates you!”
- “Thanks for being a great team player. Your efforts make our team stronger!”
- “I just want you to know that your commitment to this team and your willingness to step up and do what needs to be done – even if it falls outside of your job title – don't go unnoticed.”
Messages for outstanding dedication
Exemplary work ethic always deserves to be recognized since these employees can serve as an inspiration to the whole team. Dedicated employees are the backbone of the organization and should be valued by everyone. The success your team achieves together is thanks to their consistency and commitment. Help keep up the momentum by sending a message of appreciation.
💡 Here are a few employee appreciation quotes to recognize a great employee for their consistent dedication:
- “No matter the situation, you always rise to the occasion! Thank you for your unwavering dedication; it doesn’t go unnoticed.”
- “Thank you for being such a reliable member of this team. We appreciate your work ethic so much!”
- You always put in 100% and we see it. Thank you for helping us all succeed.
Messages for growth and improvement
As a manager, your role is to empower your team members to be their best selves at work. If your employees soak up feedback and constantly work towards improving their skill sets, kudos should definitely be served.
💡 Here are a few employee appreciation messages to show your team you notice and celebrate their improvements:
- “You accept feedback like no other and it’s a pleasure to see you flourish in your role!”
- “Your drive for constant improvement is contagious. Thank you for inspiring the team to be the best they can be.”
- “Over the last few months, we’ve noticed a huge improvement in X skillset. Your effort does not go unnoticed and we’re proud to see you grow.”
Messages for unique expertise
A great team is one that’s made up of diverse skill sets and perspectives. Leveraging your employees’ strengths not only gives them the chance to show what they’re capable of but is also beneficial to the whole team by helping them achieve goals together. Drop an appreciation note the next time someone on your team steps up to bring their unique skills to the table.
💡 Here are some of the best employee appreciation quotes to recognize someone’s standout skills:
- “Your expertise on X really gave us valuable insights. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us all!”
- “We’re so impressed with your expertise on X. You’re awesome at what you do and you bring great value to the team.”
- “Thank you for bringing your unique perspective to the table. Your expertise is impressive and inspiring.”
Messages for a work anniversary
You want to keep top performers on your team for as long as possible. And one way to do that? Acknowledge when they've put in a full year on your team or reached other milestones. Celebrating work anniversaries is a great way to show employees you appreciate their hard work and dedication. And hopefully, keep them committed to your team through their next anniversary.
💡 Here are a few examples of employee appreciation quotes to share with your team when they're celebrating a milestone anniversary with your team/organization:
- “Happy work anniversary! You make this company a better place to work every year you're here.”
- “Another work anniversary, another year. I'm grateful to work with you!”
- “Over the past year, you've shown up, you've worked hard, you've supported your team, and you've knocked your goals out of the park. Happy work anniversary. We're so lucky to have you! Can't wait to see what's coming in the year ahead.”
Messages of appreciation for a noteworthy attitude
An employee who shows up to work with a great attitude can completely change the vibe of the team. They're easier to work with, they're fun to be around, and they make for a more positive, supportive work environment. Good energy goes a long way in the workplace, so why not pay the employee happiness forward?
💡 Here are a few employee appreciation messages you can pass along to help keep the good energy flowing:
- “Working hard is important. But working kindly is just as important, and you've nailed both! Thanks for being such a pleasure to work with.”
- “Your upbeat attitude is contagious, and it makes our team (and our organization!) better. Thanks for bringing positivity to work every day!”
- “Your optimism, happiness, and overall positive attitude is an asset to this team. Thank you for being you!”
Messages of recognition for efforts during hard times
All the examples we've covered so far have been about recognizing employees when things are going well. And while it's important to recognize your team when things are on the up and up, it's just as important to recognize them when things aren't going so well.
Motivation has a tendency to dip when times are hard. For example, during a challenging project, when a key team member leaves, during times of transition or change.
If you want to keep your team moving forward during challenging times, a little employee appreciation and recognition go a long way.
💡 Here are a few employee appreciation messages you can use to recognize your team's efforts when work is more challenging, hard, or uncertain:
- “I know things haven't been easy. But I just wanted to thank you for always showing up and supporting this team, even when it's hard.”
- “Things have been tough, but every day you show up, roll up your sleeves, and make things happen. Thanks for pushing through, we appreciate you!”
- “It's easy to show up with a smile on your face when things are going well. But you've continued to show up with a smile on your face, even when things have been tough. Thanks for all you do!”
Additional words of appreciation for employee engagement
Recognition is a key tool to motivate and inspire employees. By being generous with employee appreciation messages, managers can ensure everyone in the team feels acknowledged, recognized, celebrated, and inspired to do their best work.
But are employee appreciation messages a responsibility that falls solely on managers? Appreciation can come from everywhere — from peers to leaders. And it should!
Peer-to-peer recognition examples
Colleagues have the unique ability to provide kudos to one another, especially when it comes to highlighting day-to-day collaboration wins. They notice the small efforts, like helping out with a task or providing advice, that might not always make their back to managers.
It’s important to encourage peer-to-peer recognition among team members. Not everyone has a way around words, so managers can provide a few examples to help break the ice of employee appreciation messages between colleagues.
💡 Here are a few peer-to-peer recognition examples for employees to use as inspiration to show appreciation for their colleagues:
- “Thanks so much for your help earlier on X. I was stuck and your advice was very useful. You really know what you’re doing!”
- “I appreciate every time you offer to get us coffee before a meeting. We get so caught up in the stress of the day that these little moments of consideration mean a lot!”
- “I admired the way you delivered that presentation to the client earlier. You spoke confidently and helped deliver the message clearly. I was impressed!”
Leadership message to employees examples
Leadership recognition can be powerful. For one, these messages can feel more special because they are from members of the company that employees might look up to and aspire to. A message of appreciation shows an employee’s efforts don’t go unnoticed by decision-makers — which can be extremely encouraging, especially if that employee is vying for a promotion.
But leadership messages to employees also signal to employees that members at the top of the company pyramid are taking an active interest and involvement. Leaders don’t always have the same opportunities to interact with everyone day-to-day. This type of recognition shows a level of attention and care from leadership that can sometimes go unnoticed.
💡 Here are some key messages leaders can use to show their recognition to their workforce:
- “I want to express my sincere appreciation for your hard work. Your efforts haven’t gone unnoticed and were acknowledged at our last leadership meeting!”
- “X told me it was your idea to suggest an improvement of our processes. I am impressed by your problem-solving mindset and encourage you to keep sharing your great ideas!”
- “I’ve noticed consistent feedback from your peers that your team-oriented attitude has made a positive impact on everyone. Thank you for being a part of what makes this company great to work at!”
Recognition at work examples that go beyond words
No two people are made the same, and every employee has a different ideal when it comes to appreciation. Public recognition might be great for the extroverts on your team, for example, while some may lean more towards actions beyond words. Here are a few positive recognition examples that come to life outside of the standard written message format:
Employee of the Month awards
This one might seem old school, but Employee of the Month awards are a time-honored tradition in many workplaces! They’re a way to publicly recognize star employees and celebrate outstanding performance across an organization. They create moments of praise that boost morale, motivate employees, and nurture a positive company culture.
Of course, employee award programs don’t have to be confined to the once-a-month formula. Spot bonuses to incentivize a sales quarter or weekly digital recognition boards populated by peers are examples of employee award programs. Whatever aligns with your company practices and culture!
Moments of celebration at work
Team celebrations or work anniversary celebrations are opportunities to acknowledge milestones, achievements, and special occasions together. Whether it’s a team lunch, cake to celebrate a colleague’s workiversary, or after-work team drinks to acknowledge a special project completed — moments of celebration shared together instil pride within employees and strengthen bonds between team members.
Professional development opportunities
When a company invests in its employees’ professional development, it’s a powerful demonstration of recognition. It communicates: We see how hard you work, we believe in your success, and we’re here to help you strive. Offering development opportunities like training, skill development, or career advancement lets employees know they are worth being bet on.
Professional opportunities come in all shapes and forms. They can be access to online learning, mentorship programs, or even sponsored attendances to industry conferences your employees would love to be a part of.
Flexible work options
Now, this one might not be an obvious team member recognition tactic — so allow us to explain! While flexible work options are more commonplace these days, they aren’t necessarily a given. But if managers want to boost appreciation and recognition, they might want to consider this creative work scheme. How so?
When employees are offered the option to adjust their work schedule, it shows that they are trusted to complete their tasks even outside of normal hours. It tells them that their level of responsibility, commitment, and autonomy is recognized. This can be a great reward system that gives an allowance for employees to use for personal events or projects that require them to adjust their work hours.
Looking to transform your company culture? Click here for some essential employee recognition tips that are sure to help motivate your modern workforce and contribute to a culture of recognition!
Making sure your recognition program is right for your team
Your company values its employees, so it’s important to tell them. A recognition program can be beneficial to any company or organization. In fact, research by Bersin suggests that engaging your employees through recognition tactics will reduce turnover by 31%.
So how can you tell if your recognition program is effective for your team? It can be as simple as getting them involved from the start. Using Pulse Surveys is an easy way to invite employee feedback so that you can continuously improve your work culture and recognition efforts. If you’re still unsure where to start, Good Vibes by Workleap Officevibe can help with its simple, human way to recognize team members. Rather than public recognition like praise walls, Good Vibes prompts team members to send employee appreciation messages spontaneously, encouraging peer-to-peer recognition. It’s a feature that provides team recognition examples that can be personalized. Employees can simply pick a card, adjust it in their own words, tag a peer, and let them know how great they are.
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