I am destination motivated! I love the rush of hitting a target or completing a project. Taking a pause or stopping to celebrate a measure of progress feels like a distraction, even a waste of time.
But I have it all wrong!
Shirzad Chamine’s Positive Intelligence model serves as a fantastic framework for understanding how positive feedback is integral to realizing our full potential. Celebrating milestones enhances the ‘Sage’ perspective, a mental framework characterized by positivity, curiosity, and creativity. On the flip side, failing to acknowledge hard work can fuel the ‘Saboteurs,’ inner critics that undermine success and happiness.
The human brain’s reward system plays a pivotal role in how we experience success and recognition. When we achieve a goal, our brain releases dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and motivation. This release reinforces the behavior that led to the success, making us more likely to pursue further achievements.
Neuroscience research indicates that positive recognition does more than make us feel good – it can strengthen neural pathways associated with persistence, focus, and innovation. A study from the University of Warwick found that happy employees are 12% more productive, suggesting a close link between positive emotions and work performance.
The benefits of recognizing accomplishments go beyond immediate gratification. They cultivate an environment of psychological safety and belonging, which Harvard Business Review has noted as a cornerstone of high-performing teams.
There is a big downside to constantly striving and moving the goalposts for yourself or the Team. Leaders who incessantly shift objectives without acknowledging effort create a catch-22 for their teams. Employees may feel like Sisyphus, perpetually rolling a boulder uphill only to never reach the summit. This relentless pursuit without pauses for recognition at best leads to a general lack of enthusiasm for starting a new project, and at its worst, total burnout.
Constant goalpost moving can demoralize employees, counteracting the benefits of dopamine-boosted motivation. Research by the American Psychological Association has highlighted the importance of feeling valued, with nearly 93% of employees who reported feeling valued saying they are motivated to do their best at work.
Recognizing a milestone achieved is not about resting on laurels, but about finding a balance between celebration and continual improvement.
Strategies for effective recognition include personalized feedback, public acknowledgment, and creating a space for team celebrations. These actions help sustain momentum and build a forward-thinking culture grounded in real-time accomplishment.
A few ideas Leaders can integrate:
- Establish regular recognition events to appreciate team and individual successes.
- Include positive reinforcement in daily operations, such as thank-you notes, or shout-outs during meetings.
- Define and communicate clear milestones that, once achieved, are celebrated to reinforce the team’s hard work, and…
- Be genuine…it has to be real and feel real!
Neuroscience and Positive Intelligence research converge on the conclusion that celebrating milestones harnesses natural brain chemistry to boost morale, enhance productivity, and increase engagement. Give it a try and see if enthusiasm for the next project isn’t just a little stronger.
I am going to apply this message to myself, just as soon as I press send on this article… hmmm what will my reward be?