Thank someone new
Once a week, thank a person you haven't thanked before. Recognition reaches more of your team instead of going around the same circle.
Why it works
In most teams, thanks flows between the same few people: those who sit together, talk often or work on the same project. Others do good work and rarely hear about it.
This habit gently widens the circle. People look beyond their closest teammates and notice help from other teams, new hires and those who work quietly in the background.
How to run it
- Announce the habit. Explain the idea in your team channel at the start of the week.
- Give one thank-you to someone new. Each person thanks one colleague they haven't sent karma to before, or haven't thanked in a long time.
- Share a few ideas. Suggest who people could look for: someone from another team, a new hire, a person who answered a question in a shared channel.
- Remind once a week. A short message on Monday or Thursday is enough.
- Celebrate the reach. At the end of the month, share how many people received karma for the first time.
Message templates
Launch message
New weekly habit: Thank Someone New! Once a week, send karma to a colleague you haven't thanked before. Look beyond your closest teammates: someone from another team, a new hire, a person who helped in a shared channel. Who made your work easier lately without you saying thanks?
Weekly reminder
Thank Someone New: who helped you this week that you haven't thanked yet? Send them some karma.
End-of-month post
This month, [X] people received karma for the first time. Thanks to everyone who looked a bit further!
How Karma helps
Karma makes every thank-you visible and tied to a company value, so new names show up for the whole team to see. Over time, you see who is recognized often and who is missed. Learn more about peer recognition in Karma.
How to measure
After a month, check in Culture analytics:
- how many people received karma at least once this month;
- whether karma is spread more evenly across the team;
- how much karma goes between different teams or departments.
Common mistakes
- Making it a rule with a checklist. Keep it a friendly nudge, not a task people must report on.
- Thanks for the sake of it. A thank-you still needs a real reason. If someone didn't help, wait until they do.
- Forgetting new hires. They often help in small ways and rarely get noticed.
Frequently asked questions
What if I can't think of anyone new?
Look at shared channels, recent projects or people who answered your questions. Often the help was there, just not noticed.
Does it replace regular thanks?
No. Keep thanking your close teammates too. This habit simply adds one more person each week.
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