13 Positive Feedback Examples to Improve Company Culture

“Can I have a word?”

Managers often see their employees’ faces fall when they’re called in for a chat about their performance. 

Their thought is, “If someone wants to give me feedback, I must have done something wrong.” 

But this couldn’t be further from the truth!

Positive feedback is just as important as constructive critique. And when you manage an entire team for any stretch of time, you’ll see firsthand that positive feedback is one of the driving forces behind employee development and revenue growth. 

The more supported an employee feels, the more likely they are to remain loyal, bring their 100%, and invest their full talent in the job. 

In this article, we explore the benefits of positive feedback on company culture and performance, explain how to make your positive feedback meaningful, and provide 13 examples of positive feedback in different scenarios. 

Why Is Positive Feedback Important?

For many businesses, positive feedback forms the backbone of good company culture and solid workplace engagement — which deeply affects the stability of your company’s bottom line.

Here’s why giving positive feedback is important for your team:

1. It tells them they’re moving in the right direction. Acknowledging an employee who works in a way that improves output, benefits their team, and reflects well on the company encourages them to continue working in that way. 

2. It recognizes effort. Results aren’t the only thing that matters — effort and attitude are important, too. 39% of employees report that they don’t feel appreciated at work. And, 69% say they would work harder if their efforts were “better recognized.” That’s why it’s so valuable to offer thorough, positive feedback. When these employees receive recognition and praise for their actions, it motivates them to continue performing well (even going above and beyond). 

3. It improves employee relations. Intentional positivity results in better teamwork attitudes and improved team dynamics. And improved team dynamics lead to higher levels and speeds of resilience throughout the workday. 

4. It improves company culture. Incorporating positive feedback into your routine creates a culture of celebration and encouragement in your company. 

5. It makes negative feedback easier to handle. Constructive feedback is easier to swallow and implement if your employees know the areas in which they’re succeeding. They can build on a foundation of positive feedback to improve and grow where needed. 

6. It improves employees’ self-belief. People perceive themselves to be more capable of completing the task at hand after receiving positive feedback. Encouraging your employees boosts their confidence in the workplace by improving their perceived self-efficacy.

General Tips for Providing Positive Feedback

Positive feedback focuses on highlighting strengths, achievements, talents, and attitudes. When providing feedback to employees, aim to validate and encourage them. 

Follow these tips to provide constructive and meaningful positive feedback: 

Rather than saying a generic “good job,” try to be specific about what you’re praising your employee for. Tell them exactly what they did that deserved recognition and explain how it benefited the project, team, or company. 

A good formula to follow when constructing specific feedback is as follows: “You did [task] well during [project], and it helped the team [in this way].” 

Example:

You communicated well during the last meeting, and it helped the team by keeping them organized and on schedule. 

If something deserves praise, don’t hesitate or wait to mention it! Giving prompt feedback ensures your employee remembers what they’re being praised for. 

It also makes your job easier because you no longer need to keep track of compliments and encouragements until the employee’s annual performance review. 

Consistent and regular feedback creates a culture of collaboration and interaction, and it is the best way to balance the positive and the negative. Many managers make the mistake of only speaking to their employees when they’ve made a mistake, leaving them disheartened and unenthusiastic. 

Congratulating, acknowledging, and encouraging your team tells them they have a firm foundation of good work, which makes it easier for them to incorporate constructive feedback or corrections without taking a confidence knock. 

We know your schedule fills up quickly, but try to avoid giving feedback via someone else. Grapevine compliments are better than nothing, but they come across as impersonal and unfamiliar. 

Directly approach your team with comments and encouragement. You’ll see improved team dynamics and happier employees as a result. 

13 Examples of Positive Feedback

Now that you know what sets meaningful feedback apart from simple compliments, let’s dive into specific positive feedback examples for work. 

In the following examples, we’ll illustrate scenarios where positive feedback would be appropriate, demonstrate how you can deliver your feedback, and explain why each example is meaningful. 

“Our client said you were a pleasure to work with and kept them informed and updated throughout the duration of the project. Thank you for always treating our clients with respect and kindness. You give our company a good name!”

“I’m impressed with the way you go the extra mile to ensure our clients stay happy. Your dedication to perfecting each stage of the building process is clear in the many compliments we received about your work. Your team is lucky to have you setting a good example of high-quality workmanship.” 

Why is this meaningful? 

Maintaining healthy professional relationships reflects well on not only your leadership skills but also the company. Here, you’ve shown that building client relations is a priority for the company, and the team’s efforts to be friendly won’t go unnoticed. 

“Your work on the Green Project was invaluable, and the team couldn’t have done it without you. Thank you for your hard work and dedication!”

“Your recent presentation was brilliant! I was impressed with your ideas and the clear, digestible way you presented them. Your work reflects well on the company, and we’re incredibly lucky to have you on our team.” 

Why is this meaningful? 

Congratulating employees when they do a good job motivates them to continue to be productive and produce high-quality work. In these examples, you’ve identified your employee’s areas of strength and highlighted how their efforts have benefitted the company. 

“Since taking on the responsibility of team leader at the start of the year, your confidence has improved, and your team has produced consistently impressive results under your guidance. Well done for flawlessly taking on the challenge.”

“You’ve effortlessly slipped into your new role at the company! Congratulations on one month as Surgical Assistant. We’re proud of the way you’ve adapted and grown since moving into this position.” 

Why is this meaningful? 

Taking on new responsibilities requires effort, flexibility, and a willingness to grow. Here, you’ve acknowledged the effort your employee has put in to learn new skills and explained how you’ve seen those skills impact their performance. 

“You were a pivotal part of the team’s success during the Blue Project. Thank you for guiding the team’s conversations and helping each member feel included and valuable. Collaboration is a huge part of our company culture, and I appreciate your efforts to strengthen relationships in your team.” 

“I noticed you found a brilliant compromise when discussing the building schedule with your colleagues. Your ideas kept all sides of your team happy. I appreciate your quick thinking, communication skills, and ability to collaborate with your team members.” 

Why is this meaningful? 

Collaboration and communication are essential for deskless teams. In the examples above, you’ve highlighted your employee’s leadership potential and explained how this is a pivotal part of the company’s culture and values. 

“Congratulations on five years of working at our company! Throughout your time here, you’ve helped your team remain optimistic by encouraging and leading from within. We appreciate your loyalty and are excited for many more years together.” 

“You’ve completed your employee training tasks and are officially part of the team! We’re thrilled to have you join us and look forward to seeing you thrive in this position.” 

Why is this meaningful? 

Consistency is the key to long-term growth. In these examples, you’ve congratulated your employee on their consistent effort and the loyalty they displayed to reach an important milestone.

“I’ve noticed you’ve become more confident in your client relations since starting working here three years ago. I want to congratulate you on this improvement and encourage you to keep up the hard work.” 

“You’ve recently met your goal of completing 200 practical hours within your new specialty! We’re so proud of you for all your hard work and dedication.” 

Why is this meaningful? 

You’ve acknowledged the work it took for your employee to improve a certain skill set and explained how it has benefited the company so far. 

“I know this month has been hard for you, but you’ve continued to show up and try your best. I’m grateful to work with someone as dedicated and passionate as you are.” 

“Even though our last client had some harsh feedback, I can already see how you’ve taken it into consideration to improve for next time. It’s inspiring to see you take this approach to negative feedback. Thank you for your unshakeable positive attitude and for encouraging your team to get up and try again.” 

Why is this meaningful? 

It isn’t always easy to show up and do your best at work. In these examples, you’ve shown empathy toward your employee’s situation and gratitude for their dedication despite the hardships they faced. With regular empathy and encouragement, you can boost employee morale. 

“You guided the team effortlessly through the last several projects, and I’m so proud to see how your confidence in your leadership has grown! Your team is lucky to have you.” 

“I noticed you sacrificed your personal project to focus your efforts on the team project. Thank you for being a great team player. You’ve shown your team members they can rely on you.” 

Why is this meaningful?

Fostering good team dynamics is the only way for a company to exist in harmony. Here, you’ve highlighted the ways in which your employee was a good team player and reminded them of the ways it benefitted the team and the company as a whole. 

“You stepped up and took initiative in the last project. We appreciate your ability to see where effort is needed and for your willingness to dive in and help wherever you’re able.” 

Why is this meaningful? 

You’ve told your employee that going above and beyond doesn’t go unnoticed and shown gratitude for the extra time and effort they’ve dedicated to the project. 

“The backlog that product ordering creates has been slowing the company down for years. We’re so grateful for your problem-solving skills, as they’ve simplified and streamlined our ordering process!”

“The Yellow Project had several unforeseen problems, each of which you handled with grace and skill. We appreciate your ability to remain calm under pressure and deliver incredible results.”

Why is this meaningful? 

Creativity and problem-solving go hand in hand, and both are essential skills in the workplace. Here, you’ve illustrated how your employee’s efforts have helped simplify the daily lives of their coworkers and/or superiors and given them credit for their ideas. 

“I can see you’re making an effort to improve the administrative aspects of your role. Your dedication is inspiring and shows your loyalty to this business.”

“I’ve noticed you’ve been working on your conversation skills to help with client interactions. Thank you for taking the time to be intentional about improvements and development. Your attitude aligns perfectly with our core values.”

Why is this meaningful? 

You’ve acknowledged your employee’s intention to grow or improve, congratulated them on starting the process, and explained how this growth will benefit the company. 

“You’ve been the biggest support system for your team during this challenging project. Thank you for intentionally finding ways to encourage your team members and lift their spirits.” 

“I’ve noticed you’ve stayed behind after work to help the intern while they learn the ropes. I appreciate your kindness and patience as you’ve helped them adjust to our working environment.” 

Why is this meaningful? 

Every small interaction between your employees forms the basis of the overarching company culture. In these examples, you’ve acknowledged the positive effects your employee’s words and actions have had on their team members and explained how they align with the company’s values. 

“I know there was a disagreement over scheduling during the last project your team completed. Thank you for helping your team navigate toward a compromise that kept everyone happy! Your ability to remain calm during conflict is invaluable to the company.” 

“It can be difficult adjusting to new leadership, and you’ve made it look easy! I appreciate the way you bring harmony to the team through gentle communication.” 

Why is this meaningful? 

No workplace is without some level of conflict. In the above feedback examples for peers, you’ve acknowledged that conflict is often difficult to navigate and congratulated your employee on the way they conducted themselves. Your acknowledgment encourages them and their colleagues to approach future conflicts in the same manner. 

Using Connecteam’s Recognition and Rewards Feature to Provide Positive Feedback

Connecteam’s Recognition and Rewards feature provides the perfect platform for encouragement and feedback. With a wide selection of pre-made recognitions to choose from, plus the ability to make your own, you can customize recognitions to suit your company’s needs.

Easily recognize your star players

With Connecteam, you have multiple ways to celebrate employee achievements, milestones, and congratulate them on their successes. Easily put your employees in the spotlight with customizable badges or recognize them publicly when completing a task or project.

You can do this by tagging a team member in the company newsfeed along with a high-five or star emoji to convey your appreciation. 

Reward employees for a job well done

The Rewards feature helps build a positive company culture and highlights your employees’ success. Connecteam collaborates with leading vendors and retailers, so you can gift employees digital tokens that they can redeem for gift cards.

To mark important milestones and achievements, Connecteam automatically flags key events, like work anniversaries, on the employee timeline. In addition, managers can keep track of employee accomplishments by manually adding them to their timelines.