Guiding Your Team to the Summit: Recognizing Your Champions

As we approach the close of 2024, many business leaders are shifting into high gear—rallying their teams to finish strong, wrap up key projects, and gear up for a successful 2025. But amid the hustle of Q4 and the distractions of the holiday season, it’s easy to overlook one of the most powerful ways to inspire your team: recognition.

This season of gratitude offers the perfect opportunity to pause, reflect, and celebrate the people who bring your business to life—especially those who live and breathe your company’s core values.

Why Recognition Matters

In the work I do with clients through the Entrepreneurial Operating System® (EOS), we frequently emphasize the importance of having the Right People—those who not only get it, want it, and have the capacity, but who also consistently demonstrate your core values. These individuals are the cultural backbone of your business, and acknowledging them helps reinforce what matters most in your organization.

Publicly recognizing your team’s “core value champions” isn’t just good for morale—it reinforces your culture, strengthens alignment, and boosts performance as you head into a new year.

5 Ways to Celebrate Core Value Champions

Here are five practical and meaningful ways to recognize and reward your team members who exemplify your core values:

1. Host a Year-End Core Values Celebration

Create space to gather your team and celebrate your values in action. Whether it’s a catered lunch, virtual party, or casual get-together, highlight individuals who went above and beyond. Share specific stories that bring your values to life. These narratives are powerful tools for reinforcing desired behaviors and energizing your team.

2. Introduce a “Core Value Champion” Award

If you don’t already have one, consider establishing a simple recognition program with awards tied to each core value. Give a symbolic token—like a certificate or customized gift—that reflects the meaning of the value. The key is to make the recognition intentional and personalized.

3. Offer a “Day of Choice”

Reward flexibility and autonomy. A “Day of Choice” could mean a bonus day off, the opportunity to work from anywhere, or time to work on a passion project. This small gesture can go a long way in showing trust and appreciation.

4. Send a Handwritten Note of Thanks

Never underestimate the power of a handwritten note. In a world dominated by email and Slack, a tangible, personal message carries weight. Take time to write to your core value champions and mention specific examples of how they contributed.

5. Create a Gratitude Wall

Whether it’s a physical wall in the office or a dedicated channel on your communication platform, a space for peer-to-peer gratitude can be incredibly energizing. Encourage everyone to give shout-outs to colleagues who live the values. It builds community and promotes a culture of recognition beyond leadership-driven praise.

A Culture of Gratitude Builds Momentum

Gratitude is more than a fleeting feeling—it’s a discipline. By embedding it into your year-end practices, you not only close the year with momentum, but you also lay the groundwork for a culture that supports accountability, positivity, and performance throughout the new year.

As we strive to live the EOS Life—doing what we love, with people we love, making a difference, being compensated well, and having time for other passions—gratitude becomes the fuel that keeps us moving forward.