Your calendar is packed, and your to-do list is longer than a CVS receipt. But taking a moment to pause and say, ‘Great work!’ could be the most impactful thing you do today.
Using the recognition hub
Recognition’s ripple effect
5 pillars of effective recognition
Recognition moments and resources
Creating a recognition roadmap
3 things to do today
Recognizing your team’s hard work and unique contributions doesn’t just boost morale—it drives engagement, strengthens relationships, and creates a culture where people feel valued and able to thrive.
The recognition hub was designed to help you celebrate moments that matter for your team, by sharing insights and information as you:
Evaluate
What does effective recognition look and feel like?
Explore
What resources are available to you and your team?
Enhance
What additional steps can you take to promote a culture of recognition and engagement?
In the recognition hub, you’ll find:
Recognition works best when it’s built on solid principles. These five pillars provide a helpful lens as you consider your current approach to recognition. What opportunities do these reveal?
| Timely | Frequent | Specific | Personalized | Embedded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deliver recognition as close to the moment as possible. | Integrate recognition into your team’s culture, from day-to-day to more formal recognition. | Highlight the details that make this a moment to recognize. | Understand and respect each team member’s recognition preferences.* | Tie each recognition moment back to your goals, so team members see how they are driving momentum. |
From project milestones to service anniversaries, birthdays to retirements, our recognition resources can help you celebrate the moment.
Recognition is personal—what resonates with one person might not with another. Some love the spotlight in a team meeting, while others value a quiet, heartfelt thank-you. Taking the time to understand your team’s preferences shows your commitment to celebrating them in the way they’ll appreciate most.
Our Recognition Preferences Card is the perfect tool to discover how each team member likes to be celebrated, ensuring your recognition hits the right note.
As you explore our recognition resources, keep these insights in mind to make sure you choose what will resonate most with each person.
According to a recent Gallup poll, employees who felt strongly connected to their team’s culture were:
As likely to be engaged at work
As likely to recommend their organization as a great place to work
Less likely to feel burned out at work
Less likely to be looking for a new job
Service anniversary milestones
Project milestones
Everyday wins
Honoring your retiree
Recognizing extraordinary contributions
We love celebrating our staff members’ “Yale-versaries” at key moments along their career journey here at Yale. Here’s an overview of our staff service recognition program, including certificates of appreciation, milestone gifts, and our special Long-Service Dinner.
We encourage you to add a personal touch to make each service milestone celebration truly unforgettable for your honoree. Whether you’re marking a team member’s first year with Yale, or their 50th, here are some resources that can help:
A beautiful Yale image with your heartfelt words—it’s a combo your team member will treasure! Check out our library of YCards.
Tip: Create YCards at your convenience and use the calendar feature to schedule them to go out on the date you choose.
Make every milestone memorable—these slides can help you celebrate in style!
The Celebration Module is designed to celebrate milestone anniversaries at 1 year, 5 years, and every 5 years after that (10, 15, etc.). It’s a great way to make a colleague’s Yale milestone anniversary extra special, by creating an online space where peers can share personal messages of congratulations, similar to a Kudoboard. Check out this handy guide to learn more.
Invite your team to share their service anniversaries on their social channels, with a selection of custom graphics from our YCelebrations series.
Team meetings and town halls are great opportunities to highlight your team’s achievements. Add a recognition slide to highlight as well.
Whether it’s “you rock” or “brilliant,” a Ycard is a wonderful way to reach out and let your team members know you see and celebrate the difference they make.
These are a great opportunity to really express how much you appreciate your team member’s unique contributions - make sure it’s on the agenda!
Sharing milestones on social media is a breeze for your team members, when they tap into our YCelebrations series.
A handwritten thank you note is a lovely way to let someone know how much you appreciate them.
No matter where they are, a Ycard lets your team member know their contributions are seen and valued.
Our custom Yale chat stickers give your message a touch of pizazz. From “Dino-mite” to “Grate work,” chat stickers are a fun and funky way to reach out and mark a moment.
Each year, Yale honors staff members who have gone above and beyond to advance the university’s mission. If you have team members or colleagues whose work has made a significant impact, we encourage you to nominate them for the Linda K. Lorimer Award. The nomination process typically opens annually in August, with winners announced in November.
Learn more about the program and past winners and mark your calendars to remember to nominate those amazing colleagues for their standout contributions!
Consistent recognition takes intention. With the five pillars for effective recognition and the resources above in mind, consider what steps you could take to promote a culture where recognition is instinctive, impactful, and inspiring.
| Set goals | Lead by example | Track and share | Celebrate! |
|---|---|---|---|
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How can you increase the amount of recognition you share, and encourage others to do the same? By setting some SMART goals for yourself and your team, you’ll soon feel the impact. |
By celebrating achievements—big and small—you set the tone for a positive, engaged workplace. Lead the way, build momentum, and inspire your team to celebrate those meaningful moments! |
This is a journey you’re on together, so it’s important to track and share your progress towards the goals you’ve set. Be flexible and adjust your strategy based on what you learn as you go. |
Take a moment to recognize and celebrate the progress you’re making as a team - that’s what this is all about! |
By weaving appreciation into the fabric of your team’s culture, you’re fostering a workplace where colleagues feel excited and inspired to bring their best to work every day.
Thank you for prioritizing recognition and taking the time to celebrate the moments - big and small - that matter to your team!
Shop The Yale Collection for a curated selection of timeless pieces that represent the rich tradition and distinctive mission of Yale University. A popular gift within this collection includes Picturing This – a coffee table book that captures Yale’s breathtaking campus in stunning photos by University photographer, Michael Marsland. For an added touch, gift a leather-bound edition with an embossed cover. The book and many other items in the collection are often in stock and available the same or next day for delivery. View contact information to place an order and receive internal pricing. (A COA will be required.)
Need other ideas? Consider gifting a Yale chair/rocker or lamp. These treasured heirlooms make a wonderful memento of someone’s time at the University. To purchase, order from Standard Chair of Gardner and pay with a Yale purchasing card (if using the $400 allowance). Note: This item is offered in the staff service anniversary gift catalog for 30 years of service to the University. To find out if the retiring staff member has already received the chair (or rocker) through the gift program, contact the Staff Engagement & Recognition team at internal.communications@yale.edu.
Explore the Staff Recognition section of It’s Your Yale for more information about our programs, awards, and events.