14 Positive Feedback Examples You Can Use Today

Going out of your way to give your people positive feedback isn’t just a nice thing to do.

Recognizing employees for a job well done is also one of the most effective ways to boost engagement, productivity, and retention across your business.

Read on for some positive feedback examples you can use for inspiration – or verbatim – today. 

But first, let’s look at why praising your employees is so important – and how to give a great compliment to a teammate…

Why positive feedback is so important

First things first: Why is recognition so important, anyway?

Here are a few research-backed reasons right off the bat:

• 40% of employed Americans say they'd put more energy into their work if they were recognised more often.
• 37% of workers believe the most effective thing their employer can do to cause them to produce great work is to recognise them.
• 70% of employees say that motivation and morale would improve “massively” if managers simply said “thank you” more.

We’re so hard-wired to crave praise that we even respond to recognition from a robot. When electronic systems were installed that immediately praised hospital employees for using hand sanitiser, the number of staff who regularly washed their hands rose from 10% to 90%. 

Despite the overwhelming evidence of the power of positive feedback… a massive 65% of employees haven’t received any form of recognition for good work in the last year.

Let’s move on to how you can make sure your people managers don’t fall into this all-too-common trap…

How to give positive feedback

Any praise is better than no praise. 

But not all recognition is created equal.

Follow these steps to really make the recognition you give your employees meaningful:

Praise you’re people’s personality traits

Everyone has their own unique set of strengths. And there's always something there to be celebrated: whether they’re outgoing or introverted, organized or creative, empathetic or disciplined. 

So, make sure to sing the praises of all your teammate’s unique attributes. This will make sure your colleagues feel seen – as well as let them know they’ve got your full permission to be themselves, which is a key ingredient in a happy and engaged team. 

Be timely

Respondents in one survey reported an average of 50 days since they last felt recognised in any way at work. 

Don’t fall into the trap of letting your employees go unnoticed for too long by keeping your eyes peeled for examples of them exhibiting a trait you love about them. Then be sure to praise it straight away. 

Praise them in the way they respond to

Some people get a huge boost from having the whole of the office’s attention drawn to their good deeds. Others are uncomfortable with being the center of attention, but a private thanks from their manager would mean the world to them.

Learn how each of your employees likes to be praised and be sure to recognise them in the way they respond to. 

Make your praise specific 

A simple “keep up the great work!” can go a long way. But your people might start to find your words a bit superficial if that’s as specific as your praise ever gets. 

So, be sure to look out specific things you can give your people a shoutout for.

It isn’t hard to imagine how much of an impact praise like this would have on an employee: “I couldn’t have worded that email you just sent to that unhappy customer better myself. Thank you for taking the time to word such a thoughtful response”.

14 positive feedback examples you can use today

Looking for the right words to recognize a job well done?

Here are some examples for you to use for inspiration – or use verbatim. 

We’ve left space for you to add a specific example to each one to make sure your words really make your people feel appreciated:

For hitting their performance targets

“I just wanted to give you a big shoutout for [the goal they’ve achieved]! All the hard work you put into achieving that didn’t go unnoticed. I'm so grateful to have you on the team”.

For demonstrating strong leadership skills

“I've been seriously impressed by how you’ve stepped up as a real leader for the team lately. Taking on more responsibility can be challenging, but you’ve been making it look easy – especially when you [recent example of when they demonstrated strong leadership skills]”.

For providing exceptional customer service

“Props for always going the extra mile to make sure our customers are happy. Your thoughtful responses to customers is what sets us apart – like when you [recent example of their exceptional customer service skills]”.

For making the step up to a people manager role

“Big kudos for stepping into your people manager role. You’re already looking like someone with years’ of experience managing people under your belt – like when you [recent example of their people management skills in action]”.

For coming up with an innovative solution to a problem

“I just wanted to say a huge thank you for coming up with such an innovative solution to [a recent problem your team was facing]. I love that we can always rely on you to come up with a creative fix. It doesn’t go unnoticed or unappreciated!”.  

For collaborating effectively

“Thank you for being such a team player. You’re fast becoming the glue that holds the team together – like when you [recent example of a time they collaborated effectively with a colleague]. Keep being our MVP!”.

For taking feedback on board

“I've noticed how well you handle feedback – it's like watching a pro athlete take coaching. It's clear you're not just hearing it but actually processing it and using it to level up your game, like when you [recent example of when they took your feedback on board]. Your willingness to learn and grow is inspiring!”.

For demonstrating exceptional attention to detail

“Just wanted to say thanks for your meticulous work. Your attention to detail doesn't go unnoticed – and it makes a big difference in the final product, like when you spotted [a mistake they spotted in a recent project]. Keep being our very own Sherlock Holmes!”.

For living your company values

“Big shoutout for truly embodying our company's values earlier when you [recent example of them putting one of your company’s values into action]. You’re a total pleasure to work with and we’re all lucky to have you on the team”. 

For asking for help when they need it

“I really admire you for [recent example of them asking for help when they needed it]. It takes a lot of maturity and confidence to hold your hands up and say ‘I need help’. Keep up the awesome work and you’ll go far!”

For being someone you can always rely on

“I gotta hand it to you – you’re someone I can alway rely on. Like the other day when [recent example of how dependable they are]. You're the rock of our team – always there when we need you. It's something I truly appreciate”.

For making a great start in a new role

“Just wanted to say you've hit the ground running like a cheetah on espresso. I can’t believe you’re already [an example of where they’re exceeding expectations]. Your immediate impact on the team hasn't gone unnoticed, and it's clear you're destined for greatness. Keep blazing trails!”

For continuously improving

“I'm really impressed by your drive to learn new skills. The fact that you’ve added [example of recent skill they’ve learned] to your toolbox is going to make a huge difference. Thank you for continuously stepping and taking on more responsibility. You're on the path to great things!”.

For mentoring junior employees

“Just wanted to say thanks for being an amazing mentor to our new team members. Your dedication to sharing your expertise and guiding them through challenges is making a real difference – like when [example of how their mentorship has made an impact]. Keep being the rockstar mentor you are!"

The final word

Positive feedback is one of the most powerful – and most misunderstood – tools in every manager’s toolbox. Use the examples we’ve shared here to quickly establish a culture of employee engagement and appreciation and send employee engagement through the roof. 

And if none of the examples we’ve shared are quite what you’re looking for, why not give our Employee Recognition Assistant a go? Simply tell it who you want to celebrate and what you want to celebrate them for and it will help you craft a thoughtful message recognizing their hard work in minutes.

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