The High-Five Muscle Most Leaders Forget

In volleyball, when a player shanks a shot or serve, their teammates don’t roll their eyes or walk away. Instead, they walk over, slap hands, and move on. In the NBA, when someone clangs a free throw, their teammates still line up to give them a high-five.

Why is this important? Because recognition isn’t just about celebrating the wins. It’s about reinforcing belonging, effort, and resilience—especially when someone misses.

Now let’s flip to the workplace.

How often do leaders give a figurative high-five when their people stumble? How often do they acknowledge the effort, the risk-taking, or even just the courage to try?

Too often, silence wins. Mistakes are ignored, or worse, punished. Slowly, people stop raising their hands, stop taking shots, and stop swinging big.

Recognition Is a Muscle

Recognition isn’t a once-a-year celebratory dinner or even an employee of the month award. It’s a muscle—always on, always in motion. In sports, that muscle memory is built into every play. Teammates celebrate good execution and reinforce effort after mistakes.

In business, we tend to only recognize outcomes. We forget the behaviors that lead to growth:

• Taking initiative and being proactive

• Speaking up with a hard truth

• Experimenting with a new idea

• Owning a failure and learning from it

  
  

Every one of those deserves a “high-five moment.” Without it, you don’t just lose morale—you lose momentum.

Why Recognition Matters More Than You Think

Data tells us this clearly: recognition is a profit lever. Teams that consistently recognize effort and impact see higher engagement, lower turnover, and stronger performance. It’s not soft stuff—it’s measurable.

At SKOR, recognition is one of the 7 Critical Indicators of High-Performing Teams. When we measure teams, we don’t just ask whether leaders celebrate wins. We ask if recognition flows peer-to-peer, manager-to-team, and team-to-leader.

Because here’s the truth: recognition isn’t just top-down. It’s cultural. It’s a habit shared across the locker room.

The Hidden Profit in a Simple High-Five

Think about the cost of silence:

• The missed innovation because someone was afraid to pitch a “dumb” idea.

• The disengaged employee who left because no one ever noticed their effort.

• The wasted hours fixing mistakes that could’ve been learning moments.

  
  

Now think about the upside of recognition: faster recovery, higher trust, and stronger bonds. In sports, it’s the difference between a team that crumbles after a mistake and one that comes back stronger on the next play. In business, it’s the difference between a stagnant culture and one that keeps improving.

Building a Recognition Culture

Creating a culture of recognition requires intentionality. Here are some strategies to foster this environment:

1. Lead by Example

As a leader, your actions set the tone. Acknowledge your team’s efforts openly. Share stories of both successes and failures, and highlight the lessons learned. This transparency encourages others to do the same.

2. Encourage Peer Recognition

Create opportunities for team members to recognize each other. This can be through shout-outs in meetings, a dedicated recognition board, or a digital platform where employees can share kudos. Peer recognition can be incredibly powerful.

3. Make It Regular

Recognition should not be a once-in-a-while event. Incorporate it into your daily or weekly routines. Regular check-ins can provide a platform for acknowledging effort and progress.

4. Celebrate Small Wins

Don’t wait for major milestones to celebrate. Acknowledge small victories along the way. This keeps morale high and encourages continued effort.

5. Provide Constructive Feedback

Recognition doesn’t mean ignoring mistakes. Instead, pair recognition with constructive feedback. This helps individuals learn and grow while still feeling valued.

Final Take

Leaders—your job isn’t just to high-five when your team nails the big win. Your job is to build a culture where recognition is constant, and people high-five each other daily—where effort, courage, and learning get reinforced just as much as success.

Because performance isn’t perfect execution. It’s a game of misses, makes, and momentum. And recognition is the muscle that keeps the team moving forward.

👉 Curious how your teams score on recognition? Take the SKOR Preview and find out.