Taking time to celebrate
From busy London streets to tiny village greens, from impeccable, uniformed processions to trestle tables filled with teacups and homemade cakes, the beginning of May was an important time to stop and remember that on 8th May, 80 years ago, World War II in Europe ended. In celebrating VE Day, we celebrate the power of resilience, the cost of peace, and gratefully ponder what could have been, had it not been for the many people who paid such a high price to secure freedom for future generations. This year was even more poignant as so few of those who fought for our freedom are still alive to share their stories first-hand.
Moringa has also marked a moment this month – we celebrated our 5th birthday. We enjoyed spending some rare time together in person as a team remembering where we have come from, what we set out to accomplish, the things that matter to us and being thankful for where we have got to so far. We spent time laughing, eating together, sharing stories and we even had a cake with sparkler candles and a joyful rendition of “happy birthday”.
In our fast-paced world, it’s easy to rush past milestones, always moving on to the next challenge, overlooking the value of pausing, reflecting, and celebrating. Yet taking time to celebrate is a powerful tool for motivation, connection, and well-being. It connects us to our past, strengthens our communities, and renews our spirits. It allows us to pause and honour the journey we’ve taken, the people who have shaped it, and the lessons we’ve learned. Whether marking a personal victory, a business milestone, or a global historical event, celebrations give meaning to our shared experiences.
As a leader, it’s important to intentionally stop and celebrate, both the everyday small things and the bigger milestones and achievements. Doing so can strengthen relationships, increase engagement, enhance collaboration and deepen emotional bonds.
Here are a few ways you could incorporate celebration in your leadership practice:
Intentionally look out for when your team members and colleagues do something great, then affirm them and say thank you.
Create a regular moment in your team or one-to-one meetings to acknowledge progress, achievements and things to be proud of.
Host an awards ceremony for your team, with awards for different individuals or teams, recognising and celebrating their contributions.
At the end of each day, take some time to personally reflect on what has gone well that day and what you have managed to achieve.
Make the most of milestone moments such as anniversaries, mid or end points of projects, team or project successes to gather together, to pause, reflect, maybe even have a party or go out for dinner
What's one thing you can plan to take time to celebrate over the coming days and weeks?
- Ruth Visick-Evans