Celebrations are powerful cultural signals. What we choose to mark, elevate, and honor tells people what truly matters in an organization.

Nearly every cultural or religious tradition celebrates something this time of year, reminding us that humans are wired to pause, connect, and acknowledge progress. The same is true in the workplace. Yet many of us struggle with this. We forget to mark milestones, skip over achievements, and move on to the next task. The research is clear: celebration isn’t frivolous; it’s foundational.

Celebration has transformative effects for individuals. A Socialcast study found that 69% of employees would work harder if they felt more appreciated. Celebration cultivates mutual uplift, shifting recognition from self-promotion to shared success. It increases visibility in a fast-moving workplace, helping people avoid anonymity and reinforcing a reputation for competence. And the act of pausing to reflect on accomplishments strengthens self-awareness and personal growth. Celebrations boost morale, engagement, and loyalty while reducing turnover. They signal emotional safety and genuine appreciation—key ingredients of a healthy culture.

And celebration doesn’t have to be elaborate. A recognition wall, a spontaneous team breakfast, a surprise treat, a personalized note—each small gesture plants a seed. The point isn’t perfection; it’s intention. When we celebrate, we tell our people they matter—and that changes everything. Listen in for celebrations stories from Crina and Kirsten - so fun successes and some horrible warnings.

Here’s part two of the discussion about David Brooks’s book, How to Know a Person. Brooks’ book addresses topics and ideas central to being human - and are maybe more relevant to the workplace - which is a ready made community to apply the principles of knowing each other. This is a two parter because there is A LOT to talk about.

Brooks suggests that the ability to see others deeply—and to allow ourselves to be deeply seen—is essential to human flourishing. He posits that many of today’s social ills, including the loneliness epidemic and widespread mistrust, stem from our habit of skimming relationships, treating people as functions rather than as full, complex selves. The workplace, where we discover what people truly need—everything from health care, rest, culture, belonging—is one of the most powerful settings for rebuilding this lost capacity.

Brooks frames the aspiration of knowing others through the figure of the Illuminator, the person who makes others feel visible, valued, and understood. People - and particularly leaders - who act as Illuminators create psychological safety, mattering, and authenticity— can be cornerstones of strong workplace culture. Illuminators ask better questions, remain present in conversation, and resist one-size-fits-all assumptions. Their counterpart, the Diminisher, those who unintentionally lessen others, sees people through narrow judgment or distraction.

The book unfolds in three broad movements. “I See You” explores the foundations of genuine perception: curiosity, disciplined attention, and the humility to resist fast judgment. Brooks examines the obstacles—egotism, anxiety, naive realism, static mindsets—and contrasts them with the qualities that bring people closer: tenderness, receptivity, affection, generosity. Good conversation becomes an act of care: listening loudly, favoring familiarity, asking questions that make the speaker the author of their experience, and embracing silence as meaning-making.

“I See You in Your Struggles” addresses how disconnection fuels political animosity, technological dehumanization, and profound loneliness. When people aren’t seen, misunderstandings escalate—even to violence. Brooks emphasizes this concept he calls accompaniment: which means being with someone in hardship without rushing to fix them, honoring their unique point of view, and approaching them with humility.

Finally, “I See You With Your Strengths” turns to helping people live into their gifts. Understanding personality traits, life stage, and changing identities allows us to appreciate people in their evolving fullness. Seeing others deeply—at work and beyond—is ultimately the antidote to loneliness and a path to more humane, connected communities - and, as Brooks posits, may even be part of the antidote to our political divide.