slice icon Context Slice

Recognition Message

Required context:

  • Employee or team name
  • What they accomplished
  • Channel (Slack, email, all-hands) (optional)

Structure:

🎉 Shout-out to [Name/Team]!

[1-2 sentences describing what they did and the impact it had]

[Optional: Specific detail or quote that makes it personal]

Thank you for [value/behavior this demonstrates—going above and beyond, collaboration, innovation, etc.]!

Rules:

  • Keep under 100 words for Slack/quick recognition
  • Be specific about what they did—not just "great job"
  • Connect to impact: "This helped us [outcome]" or "Because of this, [result]"
  • Match the tone to the channel—more casual for Slack, slightly more formal for email
  • If team recognition, try to name individuals where appropriate
  • Emojis are fine for informal channels

Examples:

For individual:

🎉 Shout-out to Sarah Chen! She completely redesigned our onboarding flow this quarter, cutting time-to-productivity from 4 weeks to 2. New hires are already raving about it. Thank you for taking initiative and making life better for every new teammate!

For team:

👏 Huge thanks to the Customer Success team for crushing our renewal targets this quarter—102% attainment! Special recognition to the EMEA pod who turned around three at-risk accounts. Your persistence and customer focus made the difference.

DEI Workshop Outline

Required context:

  • Workshop focus (inclusive communication, unconscious bias, allyship, etc.)
  • Audience (all employees, managers, specific team)
  • Duration (typically 60-90 minutes)
  • Company/team context (optional)

Structure:

# DEI Workshop: [Topic]

## Overview
- **Duration:** [X minutes]
- **Audience:** [Who]
- **Format:** [Virtual/In-person/Hybrid]
- **Facilitator:** [If known]

## Learning Objectives
By the end of this session, participants will:
1. [Objective 1 — understand/recognize something]
2. [Objective 2 — be able to do something]
3. [Objective 3 — commit to an action]

## Agenda

### Opening (10 min)
- Welcome and ground rules
- Icebreaker: [Suggested activity—e.g., "Share one thing about your background that influences how you work"]
- Frame the "why" for this topic

### Core Content (25-30 min)
- **[Concept 1]:** [Brief description and how to present]
  - Key point: [What participants should take away]
- **[Concept 2]:** [Brief description]
  - Key point: [Takeaway]
- **[Concept 3]:** [Brief description]
  - Key point: [Takeaway]

### Interactive Activity (15-20 min)
**Activity:** [Name and description]
- Format: [Small groups, pairs, individual reflection]
- Instructions: [What participants do]
- Debrief questions:
  1. [Question to surface insights]
  2. [Question to connect to workplace]

### Discussion (10-15 min)
Discussion prompts:
1. "[Question that invites vulnerability or personal reflection]"
2. "[Question about applying learning to work]"
3. "[Question about supporting others]"

### Commitment & Close (5-10 min)
- Personal commitment: Each participant writes down one action they'll take
- Optional: Share commitments with a partner
- Resources for continued learning
- Thank you and close

## Facilitator Notes
- [Tip for handling sensitive moments]
- [Tip for inclusive facilitation]
- [Backup activity if time runs short/long]

## Materials Needed
- [Slides/presentation link]
- [Handouts if any]
- [Breakout room setup for virtual]
- [Flip charts/sticky notes for in-person]

## Discussion Ground Rules (to share at opening)
1. Speak from your own experience ("I" statements)
2. Assume good intent, address impact
3. What's shared here stays here; what's learned here leaves here
4. It's okay to be uncomfortable—that's where growth happens
5. Step up, step back—make space for all voices

Rules:

  • Balance content with interaction—no one wants a lecture
  • Include an activity that creates vulnerability or connection
  • Provide ground rules for safety
  • End with commitment to action—don't just inform
  • Have facilitator notes for handling difficult moments
  • Keep to time—respect people's schedules

Engagement Initiative Ideas

Required context:

  • Current engagement challenges (optional)
  • Work model (remote, hybrid, in-person)
  • Budget constraints (optional)
  • Team or company size

Structure:

# Engagement Initiative Proposal: [Initiative Name]

## The Opportunity
[1-2 sentences on what engagement gap this addresses—based on survey data, observation, or best practice]

## Proposed Initiative
**Name:** [Catchy, memorable name]

**Description:**
[2-3 sentences on what this is and how it works]

**Key Elements:**
- [Element 1]
- [Element 2]
- [Element 3]

## Expected Impact
- **Engagement driver addressed:** [Connection, recognition, growth, purpose, etc.]
- **Target outcome:** [Specific metric or observable change]
- **Who benefits:** [All employees, specific segment]

## Implementation
- **Timeline:** [When to launch, duration]
- **Effort:** [Low/Medium/High for HR, for managers]
- **Budget:** [$X or "minimal"]

## Success Metrics
- [How you'll know it's working—participation, survey scores, qualitative feedback]

## Risks & Mitigations
- [Potential issue]: [How to address]

Initiative Ideas by Category:

Connection (especially for remote/hybrid):

  • Virtual coffee roulette (random 1:1 matching)
  • "Day in the life" video series
  • Cross-team project showcases
  • Interest-based Slack channels with light programming

Recognition:

  • Peer-to-peer recognition program
  • "Caught being awesome" cards
  • Monthly/quarterly team spotlights
  • Manager recognition training

Growth:

  • Internal mentorship matching
  • Learning lunch series
  • Job shadow program
  • Skill-share sessions

Purpose:

  • Volunteer time off + company volunteering days
  • Customer story sharing
  • Impact dashboards (how our work matters)
  • ERG support and visibility

Wellbeing Program Proposal

Required context:

  • Specific wellbeing focus (optional—mental health, physical, financial, social)
  • Recent feedback or concerns (optional)
  • Budget range
  • Company size

Structure:

# Wellbeing Initiative: [Program Name]

## Rationale
[2-3 sentences on why this matters now—tie to feedback, trends, or business case]

## Program Overview
**Focus area:** [Mental health / Physical / Financial / Social / Holistic]

**Description:**
[What the program includes and how employees access it]

## Components

### [Component 1 - e.g., Resources]
- What: [Description]
- How to access: [Details]
- Cost: [$X]

### [Component 2 - e.g., Programming]
- What: [Description]
- Frequency: [Weekly/monthly/etc.]
- Cost: [$X]

### [Component 3 - e.g., Benefits enhancement]
- What: [Description]
- Implementation: [Details]
- Cost: [$X]

## Investment Summary
| Component | Cost | Notes |
|-----------|------|-------|
| [Component 1] | [$X] | [Per employee/total/etc.] |
| [Component 2] | [$X] | |
| [Component 3] | [$X] | |
| **Total** | **[$X]** | |

## Expected Outcomes
- [Outcome 1 with metric if possible]
- [Outcome 2]
- [Outcome 3]

## Success Metrics
- **Participation:** [Target]
- **Satisfaction:** [Survey measure]
- **Business impact:** [Retention, sick days, productivity proxy]

## Timeline
- [Phase 1]: [What happens when]
- [Phase 2]: [What happens when]
- [Ongoing]: [Maintenance/iteration]

## Risks & Considerations
- [Privacy considerations]
- [Equity of access]
- [Stigma/uptake concerns]

Rules:

  • Tie to business outcomes, not just "nice to have"
  • Consider equity—is this accessible to all employees?
  • Address stigma for mental health programs
  • Include success metrics upfront
  • Propose pilot before full rollout for larger investments