MAKING PROGRESS: THE POWER OF CELEBRATING SMALL WINS

When things get busy or stressful, it can be easy to get caught up in chasing our goals without taking a moment to reflect on how far we’ve come. Acknowledging progress, big and small, is a crucial aspect of any journey toward success. And, acknowledgement is only one part of it, as celebrating progress is just as important!?

Whether it's achieving personal milestones, hitting targets in business, or supporting others in their endeavours, celebrating achievements along the way helps with goal setting and boosts the morale of both yourself and your team, leading to higher productivity and better mental health. We’re sharing ways that you can implement celebration into your work and why we think it’s important:?

Focus on the Process, not the End Goal

One of the first steps to making progress on a project is laying out your goals. Goals help us have direction and purpose and they guide us through our actions and decisions. But, working to achieve these goals can feel overwhelming, especially when the finish line seems far away or there’s much work left to do. In this case, it’s best to break down your goals into smaller, more achievable ones so that you can focus on celebrating your progress along the way.?

By breaking down larger goals into smaller, manageable tasks, we create opportunities for regular celebration. In his book Atomic Habits, James Clear emphasizes the significance of turning our focus to a system of continuous small improvements or incremental progress that helps us work towards our goals. He states “Goals are good for setting a direction, but systems are best for making progress.” The big takeaway here is that a focus on goals relies on completion before they can be celebrated, but a focus on the system allows you to fall in love with the process or the journey, opening up various checkpoints along the way where you can celebrate.

These small victories will not only validate your efforts but will reinforce positive behaviours, ultimately making it more likely for you to stay committed to your bigger goal.

Celebrate Wins, Big or Small

Celebrating ourselves is key, but it’s equally important to celebrate and communicate with your team about their wins and progress. Your direct team, clients, and support networks deserve to be recognized for their achievements.?

Team members like Virtual Assistants (VAs) play a vital role in supporting our endeavours, and they often work tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure our success. Acknowledging and celebrating their wins creates a sense of appreciation, can boost their mental health, and motivates them to continue doing good work.

In today’s world, online communities are more prominent than ever and have become invaluable sources of support and encouragement. Whether you're part of an online community with your clients or with a coaching network, these platforms offer the opportunity to celebrate wins as a group. If you aren’t a part of one already, consider setting one up within your client network so that everyone can celebrate each other. Sharing successes not only inspires others but also strengthens bonds within the community, creating a positive and supportive work culture.

Mental Health and Productivity?

The benefits of celebrating progress extend far beyond just the recognition. It also has a positive effect on mental health, engagement, and productivity.?

On an individual level, recognizing your achievements can help to boost your confidence and self-esteem which ultimately reduces the stress and anxiety that can come with pursuing goals. On a team level, celebrating progress creates a positive work environment, enhancing collaboration and boosting morale. Clients feel valued and motivated to continue the journey towards their end goal, knowing that their efforts are appreciated and supported. In terms of peer communities, celebrating each other's success helps foster a sense of mutual respect and encouragement which drives collective growth.?

We spoke to mindset and mental performance coach, Ambrose Wilson-Brown to gather some insights on how celebrating progress can positively affect your team’s mental health:?

“By celebrating even the smallest achievements, we can create a culture that uplifts mental health, fosters resilience, and cultivates a positive environment. I like to keep this simple. Everyone responds well to praise and recognition. The saying goes, ‘Catch them being good,’ and if there's nothing to catch, then create something to catch.”

He goes on to explain that:?

“When it comes to the practical application of this ideology you should be helping your team set big goals (we call them telescopes because they are so far away) and reverse engineer them into smaller, achievable goals. Now they have their road map to success. This will make accountability easier.” You should also “schedule time to reflect on your team’s progress.” He recommends using the process of “WBH, or Well-Better-How. What went well?- This is where praise comes in; have fun with this. What can you do better? And how can you make this happen? Is there anything I can do to help? Both self-reflection and personal growth are hard - this is where recognition plays an important part.”?

Celebrating progress is not just a nicety or something that you should do to come across as a “good leader.” Rather, it’s a necessity for personal and professional growth and has great benefits to our mental health. By embracing the journey, setting incremental goals, and acknowledging achievements along the way, we can fuel our own motivation and inspire those around us to strive for greatness.?

Could you use some help setting up the systems that will allow you to celebrate your progress as you work towards your goals? Are you ready to launch your own online coaching community? Reach out to us to discuss our guided accountability and project management package or standalone project management services. Please email or book a complimentary, no-obligation consultation to explore what working together might look like.