8 Simple & Meaningful Ways to Celebrate Team Wins This Holiday Season
As the holidays fast approach and 2025 comes to an end, this is an important time to pause and reflect on what your team has accomplished this year – not through elaborate events or big budgets, but through small, intentional connections that help people feel seen, valued, and celebrated. Here are 8 free ways to end the year strong, with gratitude and energy for what’s ahead. All you’ll need is about an hour to prepare and pre-plan the activity, including sending requests and prompts to team members in advance to give them enough time to provide a thoughtful response.
Tip: Instead of attempting to plan/execute on these activities alone, involve team members - especially those CliftonStrengths talent themes: Relator, Positivity, Developer, Includer, Communication, Arranger, Woo, and Learner in their Top 5.
1. Spotlight Stories of Impact
Invite each team member to share a short story or moment from the year that made them proud — something that reflects your mission in action or teamwork at its best.
Time: 15–30 minutes during a staff meeting or retreat reflection.
Setting: Virtual or in-person staff meeting.
Tip: Provide short prompts like “One thing I’m really proud of our team for this year is…”
Optional: Capture stories in a slide deck or a document to revisit at next year’s spotlight.
2. Create a “Year in Review” Reflection
Summarize the year’s major wins, lessons learned, and personal milestones — not just metrics. Include quotes, photos, or fun stats (“We hosted 12 events, gained 7 new memberships, celebrated 8 birthdays, and one of us became a grandpa!”).
Time: 1 hour of prep, 30 minutes to share.
Setting: Virtual or in-person staff meeting.
Tip: Ask everyone to send you these 3 things and then combine into one document:
1) a major win 2) a lesson learned and 3) a personal milestone
Optional: Email recap as a digital newsletter or printed handout; post in a common space.
3. Host a Fun, Lighthearted Awards Ceremony
Recognize staff contributions with playful yet meaningful awards like:
Behind-the-Scenes Hero, Steady Under Pressure, Master Relationship-Builder
Creative Problem-Solver, Idea Machine, King/Queen of Metrics
Go-to Guru, Culture Keeper, Positive Pulse
Time: 20–30 minutes.
Setting: All-staff meeting, potluck, or virtual happy hour.
Tip: Keep the tone celebratory but genuine.
Optional: Create a simple survey to collect staff’s nominations (ask them to suggest an award for each of their team members); Use Canva/PPT to make free certificates.
4. “Hot Cocoa & Highlights” Gathering
Set aside time for a casual conversation where everyone brings a warm drink, shares one team highlight, and names one thing they’re grateful for.
Time: 30 minutes.
Setting: Virtual coffee chat or in-person breakroom circle.
Tip: Open with an icebreaker like, “What’s one thing you want to toast to from this year?”
Optional: Create a Word Cloud that summarizes the answers and circulate it afterwards.
5. Secret Gratitude Exchange
Instead of a gift swap, invite staff to draw names and write a brief, anonymous appreciation note for someone on the team.
Time: 10 minutes to write; 5 minutes to share or deliver.
Setting: In-person meeting or virtual message exchange (email, Slack, shared doc).
Tip: Provide short prompts like “I appreciate how you…” or “You helped me when…”
Optional: Go old school and use physical thank you cards.
6. Team Playlist of the Year
Ask everyone to add one or two songs that reflect the past year or the team’s spirit. Compile songs into a shared Spotify or YouTube playlist.
Time: 10 minutes of contribution, 10 minutes to compile; 10-minute listening session.
Setting: Shared online link or background music at a gathering.
Tip: Title it something like “The Soundtrack of 2025 — [Team Name] Edition.”
Optional: To be futuristic and aspirational, ask everyone to think ahead to 2026 and consider their hopes for the team in the new year; create a playlist of songs for 2026.
7. Pass the Torch
Invite each person to share one value, mindset, or goal they want to carry into the new year — something that represents both growth and hope.
Time: 15–20 minutes.
Setting: Final team meeting of the year or January kickoff.
Tip: Record or capture these in a word cloud as a visual “team compass” for the coming year.
Optional: Have an actual torch like object (candle, baton) to physically pass around if in-person, or get creative on video: use emojis, reactions, or a virtual torch background to make the pass visualize.
8. Lead with Gratitude
Before signing off for the holidays, send a short, heartfelt message to your team — individually or collectively — acknowledging their resilience, collaboration, and team spirit.
Time: 10–15 minutes total.
Setting: Email, handwritten note, or brief closing message in a meeting.
Tip: Be specific: name what you saw, what you appreciated, and why it mattered.
Optional: Depending on your budget, provide food at meeting or a small thoughtful gift.
Summary
Team celebration doesn’t have to be grand or expensive to be meaningful. Small, intentional activities like these remind team members that their efforts are seen and that their character matters. Take a few minutes to pick one activity from the list above and determine how you can adapt it to your leadership style and to the team’s needs. Pick a date and communicate the activity and your intentions for it. Give a deadline for responses to ensure full and timely participation by all. Keep it as light and fun as possible.
Cheers to rekindled motivation, reinforced connection, and setting the tone for a warm holiday season and an optimistic year ahead - Happy Holidays!
