What is kudos?
Kudos is another word for the praise you give someone for an achievement. The word has its roots in the ancient Greek term “kydos,” which means “praise or renown.”
In the workplace, people sometimes say kudos to mean “here’s to,” as in “Kudos to the team for their stellar sales presentation.” However, any message of praise can qualify as giving kudos. Kudos can be given one-on-one or during larger work meetings to say thanks and show appreciation.
Related: 75 Compliments for Coworkers and Employees
Examples of kudos messages
To get you started giving kudos to the team, here are some examples of messages that you can customize and use in the workplace.
Finishing a lengthy project
“Incredible job getting this project completed. Not only are you on time, but the quality of your work is great. I’m sure the client is going to be impressed with the results.”
Coming up with a solution to a problem
“Way to think outside the box! Your creative approach helped us out of that jam. We ended up getting everything fixed before the close of business, and we couldn’t have done it without you.”
Providing great customer service
“You did an excellent job handling that upset customer. It was great how you de-escalated by apologizing and then immediately offered a solution. By the end of the conversation, their attitude completely changed. I could tell they appreciated your efforts as much as I do. I have a feeling they’ll be a customer for life now.”
Making a sale
“Wow! That was a really great sale. I noticed how you cross-sold that accessory, and you really explained the benefits of the product well. Thanks to you, we’re one step closer to hitting our monthly goal.”
Delivering a presentation
“Your presentation was really effective. Your slides were so well organized and clear, and your explanations really drove the meaning home. I feel like you got everyone on the same page, and this project will be off to a great start because of it. Thanks for your hard work.”
Doing something special for the office
“Thank you for organizing everything to celebrate Melinda’s birthday. The cake was great, and I know it took a lot of time to put together that slide show. Everyone enjoyed themselves, especially Melinda. Thank you for making everyone’s day a little brighter and giving us an opportunity to do something fun as a team.”
Tips for giving kudos to the team
How you deliver praise to your team matters just as much as what you say. To make your kudos messages as meaningful as possible, follow these tips.
1. Be as timely as you can
Although getting kudos from your supervisor or manager can mean a lot, regardless of when the message is received, try to praise your employees as soon as they achieve something.
When you’re timely with praise, employees will know you noticed their actions and won’t be left to wonder if you heard about what happened secondhand. Taking time out to recognize employees as soon as possible also shows that you prioritize them. If you wait too long, it may come off as an afterthought.
2. Choose the right format
Some of the ways you can give kudos to the team include:
- Verbally in a group setting
- Verbally in a one-on-one session
- Verbally during a conference call or video conference
- In writing through an appreciation email
- As a shout-out on Slack, Teams or another messaging service
- In writing through a printed letter
In some cases, one option may be the obvious choice. For example, if some of your team works remotely, your work messaging service or email may be the only way for you to quickly communicate praise.
When multiple formats will work, consider which is most appropriate for the situation, and don’t hesitate to combine methods as you see fit. For a major achievement, you may want to give kudos verbally, and then pen a personalized employee recognition letter your team members can save going forward.
3. Seek input from others
No supervisor or manager can observe their employees every minute of the workday, so there are likely small successes that you miss from time to time. Ensure everyday achievements get the recognition they deserve by encouraging your team to tell you about each other’s contributions.
One team member can send you an email when another goes above and beyond to assist with a project, or they can let you know about a creative solution a coworker devised for a problem via messenger. When you seek input from others, you’ll have more opportunities to give kudos to the team.
4. Get specific
When giving kudos, be as specific about the achievement as possible. While simply saying, “Nice work today” or “Good job earlier” is nice, your employees will get more from your praise when you call out what they did.
5. Communicate effectively
Your facial expressions, demeanor and tone of voice all play an important role in communication, so use them all to your advantage when giving kudos. Smile while delivering praise verbally and give weight to your words.
6. Use inclusive language
As you craft your message, steer clear of any language that may leave some members feeling excluded. Avoid gendered terms, such as “you guys,” and gender-coded words.
Related: What Is an Inclusive Workplace? How to Get Started
7. Explain the impact
Make your praise more meaningful by explaining how the achievement benefits the team or your organization. Putting small and large achievements into context will help your team realize they matter.
8. Tailor the message to the recipient
While everyone likes to hear they did a good job, not everyone is comfortable with public praise. Watch your team’s reactions when you give kudos verbally in a group setting. If someone appears embarrassed, give them kudos in private in the future. You can choose to deliver your praise face-to-face or by sending an appreciation email.
9. Keep things natural
When giving kudos, you want to sound sincere. Using lofty vocabulary you don’t normally employ or speaking in a manner that isn’t how you normally do can make the praise feel stilted and false. Sticking to your usual manner of speech to give kudos to the team will help you sound sincere.
FAQs about giving kudos at work
What are the benefits of giving kudos to the team?
There are many benefits to giving kudos to employees on a regular basis. Being recognized can motivate employees, promoting productivity. Showing appreciation helps team members feel valued and like they’re an important part of your organization. They may feel more loyal to your company and be less likely to look elsewhere for work as a result. Ongoing praise can also lead to a happier workplace and strengthen your working relationship with your team.
How can giving kudos fit into an overall employee recognition initiative?
An employee recognition program is a company-wide initiative to show appreciation for employees. Examples include employee appreciation events, years of service awards and customer service awards. Giving kudos to the team is a more informal practice that supervisors and managers can do to honor both small and large achievements.
When the entire management team commits to giving kudos, you can help to cultivate a culture of appreciation in the workplace that complements your employee recognition program by further boosting workplace morale and increasing employee retention rates.
