“Yay!”
Because progress feels better when you share it.

A few months ago, I watched as my two-year-old grandson put a puzzle together. It was a simple puzzle with only ten or fifteen pieces, yet every time he locked a piece in place, he’d pause, throw his hands in the air, and crow, “Yay!”

And we couldn’t help ourselves. All the adults watching from across the room joined in: “Yay!”

He wasn’t done with the puzzle. He didn’t need to be finished. Every piece felt like progress, and he made sure everyone felt it too.

That moment stuck with me because in most of our work, no one’s cheering. Especially on projects like data documentation. No one’s yelling “Yay!” for the glossary term you just defined or the report you finally linked to its source. And yet, those pieces matter.

As a project champion or team lead, you have the chance to change that. You can’t make the work easier. But you can help it feel like it’s moving forward.

Let’s talk about what happens when you celebrate progress out loud and how that lifts everyone around you.

Why It’s Your Job to Celebrate Out Loud

When you’re the champion, you’re not just doing the work. You’re shaping how the work feels to everyone else.

Here’s the thing: people don’t always notice their own progress. But they notice when you notice it.

It’s easy to focus on what’s unfinished: what’s missing, messy, or still ahead. But if no one ever stops to say, “Hey, look what we have done,” the team’s energy will start to fade.

Celebration makes progress visible. Visibility builds momentum. And momentum spreads.

Five Simple Ways to Celebrate With (and for) Others

You don’t need to throw a party. Just let people feel seen. Here are a few ways to do that:

1. Share a win in your team chat

Even something like, “We just finished documenting our first table!” can lift spirits and help people see that progress is happening.

2. Call someone out in a meeting

“Shoutout to Morgan for updating the glossary terms tied to the sales report. Huge step forward.”

When others hear good work being recognized, they’re more likely to engage, contribute, and cheer for each other.

3. Start a “shared win” tracker

Keep a running list: "What got better this week?" This can live in a shared doc or even at the bottom of your sprint board. Keep it light. Keep it real.

4. Capture before-and-after moments

Screenshots tell a powerful story. Before: a blank table. After: full descriptions, glossary links, usage notes. Show what changed.

5. Invite people to show off

Some people feel awkward sharing their own work. As a leader, give them permission. Tell them, “If you do something cool, tell us. We want to see it.”

And if they don’t want to show off, you can brag for them. Trust me, they won’t complain; they’ll preen inside.

These moments don’t take long. But they do something important: they remind people that what they do matters.

Make It a Habit

Celebration isn’t a one-time push. It’s a culture.

Try ending each project meeting with one question: "What’s something we moved forward this week?"

Or set a recurring Friday reminder to call out one thing that went well.

The more often you do it, the more progress you’ll see.

It Matters More Than You Think

Recognition isn’t just about morale. It’s how you create staying power. When people feel like their work is seen and appreciated, they’re more likely to stay engaged, keep contributing, and feel invested in the outcome. It’s not about trophies or applause. It’s about a quiet moment of validation. A simple acknowledgment that the time and energy they put in is worth something. That’s what keeps people going when the finish line is nowhere in sight.

Even high performers need someone to say, “That thing you just did? It helped. Thanks. It moved us forward.”

Closing: Give the Room a “Yay!” Culture

You don’t need confetti or a dashboard full of green checkmarks. But you do need energy. And energy comes from acknowledgment.

Every time you help someone feel seen, you place another piece of the puzzle. And just like my grandson, you might find others joining in with their hands in the air, smiling, and shouting, “Yay!”

That’s how progress feels.

That’s how progress spreads.