Learning from failure is great and I am all about continuous improvement.
However, many of us do not take enough time to celebrate and savor our wins.
A recent article in Harvard Business Review points out the downsides of moving on too quickly to the “next goal.” We miss out on three critical benefits:
1. Refuel Motivation: Celebrating an achievement provides a crucial moment of positive reinforcement. It allows you to connect the hard work you put in with the satisfying outcome. This connection is essential for recharging your internal battery.
2. Validate Your Strategy: A win is evidence that your chosen approach was effective. By celebrating, you mentally record what worked, making it easier to replicate that successful strategy in the future. If you rush past it, the valuable data of success is lost.
3. Build Confidence and Anchoring: The modern business climate is defined by uncertainty, scrutiny, and nonstop demands. Acknowledging an achievement—even a small one, like a successful presentation or an on-time deliverable—serves as a stabilizing force. It helps you stay anchored and energized.
Acknowledging your own achievements isn’t self-indulgence; it’s a strategic necessity. Start by integrating small, simple habits into your routine:
- Practice a “Moment of Notice”: After a successful outcome, take 60 seconds to simply notice it. Don’t immediately check your email or jump to the next item. Acknowledge the achievement with a simple: “I did that well.”
- Keep a Success Log: Maintain a brief log (a simple document or notebook) where you record daily or weekly wins. These notes serve as an external source of validation to look back on when self-doubt creeps in.
- Share the Success (Authentically): When a team win occurs, share it widely and specifically. Credit the individuals and explain how their efforts led to the positive result. This reinforces the behavior and makes the team feel seen.
We are at the perfect time of year to begin practicing this! Take some time at your next team meeting to list your key accomplishments for 2025. Celebrate! Do the same thing for yourself, personally. Don’t let these moments slip by. Noticing your successes will help you build the confidence you need to keep moving forward.
*Ideas for this blog taken from: Chaplin, L. N. “Most Leaders Don’t Celebrate Their Wins – But They Should,” Harvard Business Review online, November 10, 2025.
