Encouraging Everyday Recognition: Building a Simple High Five Program With Recognize

What a High Five Recognition Program Looks Like

A high five recognition program focuses on quick, informal appreciation between colleagues. Instead of requiring a formal nomination or approval process, employees can recognize each other immediately when something positive happens.

These recognitions typically highlight small contributions that support team success.

For example, employees might send a high five when a colleague:

• Helps solve a problem during a busy project
• Provides quick support to unblock a task
• Shares useful knowledge or resources
• Steps to help a teammate meet a deadline
• Demonstrates behaviors that reflect company values

By making recognition simple, organizations encourage appreciation to happen more frequently.

Creating a High Five Badge in Recognize

Recognize allows organizations to create custom badges that represent different types of recognition. A High Five badge can be added as a lightweight option that employees can use for quick appreciation.

The badge can be designed to reflect the organization’s culture and communication style. Many companies choose a simple high five icon or a friendly visual that clearly signals informal recognition.

Once the badge is created, employees can select it when recognizing a colleague and include a short message describing the contribution they want to highlight.

Because badges are visible across the platform, other employees can see and celebrate the recognition as well.

Sending High Fives Directly in Microsoft Teams

One advantage of using Recognize is its integration with Microsoft Teams. Employees can send recognition without leaving the communication tools they already use each day.

A high five can be shared in Teams while employees collaborate, discuss projects, or support one another. This makes it easy for recognition to happen naturally as part of everyday interactions.

Recognize also connects with other workplace tools, allowing recognition to appear where employees are already working. This helps keep appreciation visible without requiring employees to switch platforms.

Encouraging Peer Recognition Across Teams

High five programs work best when recognition is driven by employees themselves. Peer-to-peer appreciation allows colleagues to acknowledge each other’s contributions in real time.

Employees often see helpful actions that managers may not notice. Allowing peers to recognize each other ensures those contributions are visible and valued.

Encouraging peer recognition can help organizations:

• Increase the frequency of recognition
• Strengthen collaboration between colleagues
• Highlight everyday efforts that support team success
• Reinforce behaviors that reflect company culture

When employees feel comfortable recognizing each other, appreciation becomes part of the organization’s daily interactions.

Sharing Recognition Across the Organization

While high fives may begin between two colleagues, sharing recognition publicly can help strengthen workplace culture.

Recognize allows high five messages to appear in recognition feeds, where employees across departments can see and engage with the appreciation. This visibility helps create a shared culture of recognition throughout the organization.

Employees may react to or comment on recognition posts, allowing teams to celebrate contributions together. Over time, these interactions help build stronger connections between colleagues.

Recognition activity can also be viewed through the platform, allowing organizations to see how frequently appreciation is happening across teams.

Keeping the Program Easy and Fun

One of the most important aspects of a high five recognition program is simplicity. The easier it is for employees to participate, the more likely they are to use it regularly.

Organizations often keep high five programs effective by:

• Using a simple badge that clearly represents quick recognition
• Encouraging employees to recognize small contributions
• Avoiding complex rules or approval steps
• Making recognition visible to others across the organization

A straightforward approach helps employees view recognition as a natural part of their daily work rather than a formal process.

Making Everyday Appreciation Part of Work

A high five program highlights the everyday contributions that help teams move forward. Small actions such as helping a teammate, sharing knowledge, or stepping in during busy moments often make a real difference in how work gets done.

Using a simple High Five badge in Recognize allows employees to acknowledge those moments quickly. When recognition is easy to send through Microsoft Teams and other workplace tools, appreciation becomes part of normal communication rather than a separate process. 

As recognition happens more regularly, it helps create an environment where acknowledging colleagues becomes a natural part of working together.