Pump Up the Praise: Fun Employee Appreciation on a Budget

Employee Appreciation on a Budget? Bring the Balloons

So you’re bringing your team together and want to include a bit of employee appreciation. Maybe it’s been a while. You want to start strong—good energy, some connection, perhaps even a little fun. And you definitely want to recognize the great stuff your team has been doing.

But your budget? It’s the kind of budget that says, “What if we just clap enthusiastically?”

No worries. You can still make people feel seen, valued, and excited—without spending a ton (or really much at all).

Here’s one of my favorite low-cost, high-impact ways to appreciate your team:

Balloons.

Yep. Balloons.

Employee Appreciation That Pops (Literally): An Easy Employee Appreciation Exercise (With Video)

Watch this video to see this employee appreciation teambuilder in action

Here’s how it goes:

1. Pick a few categories. Think: “Big wins,” “Best practices,” “New learnings,” “Promotions,” “Above-and-beyond moments”—whatever fits your team right now.
2. Color-code some balloons. For example, green = learnings, red = celebrations, blue = cool new ideas.
3. Blow them up. (Yes, the balloons. Not your to-do list.)
4. Let people choose. Invite your team to pick a balloon that represents something they want to share or celebrate.
5. Give them 10 minutes to wander and talk. No formal speeches. Just natural conversations—“Hey, what’s your balloon for?” Let the recognition spread around the room.

That’s it. Easy setup. Big return.

Why This Works

People love to share their wins—but they don’t always get the chance. This gives them the moment. It’s fun, colorful, and just a little silly in the best way.

And it brings people together. They hear each other’s stories. Learn something new. And, cheer each other on.

In short: it creates energy, connection, and pride—without needing a line item in your budget.

Q1: What are some other playful ways to celebrate team wins when money is tight?

So glad you asked. Here are a few tried-and-true favorites:

• “Sticky Note Shoutouts” – Keep a stack of Post-its handy. Write quick, specific thank-yous and stick them on desks, laptops, or virtual whiteboards.

• “Pass the Praise” – Start a meeting with one person recognizing someone else. That person then picks someone new to shout out next time. (It snowballs.)

• “Mini Mic Moments” – Give someone 60 seconds to share a recent win at the start of a meeting. Make it fun, make it fast, make it a habit.

• Create a “Wins Wall” – In the office? Use a whiteboard or wall space. Virtual? Try a shared doc or Slack channel. Let the team post shoutouts, wins, and thank-yous.

Recognition doesn’t need confetti cannons (though those are cool too). It just needs a moment—and a little intention.

Q2: How can I adapt this balloon idea for a remote or hybrid team?

We’ve got you. No helium required.

• Use emojis instead of balloons. Send out a list of “celebration categories” tied to emojis. (🎯 = big win, 🌱 = new learning, 💡 = idea shared, etc.)

• Virtual Breakouts: Have folks pick their emoji and go into small groups to share their story. Ten minutes, just like in-person.

• Jamboard or Miro board: Create a digital canvas with “balloon” shapes or sticky notes for people to click, drag, and write in.

• Bonus twist: Ask folks to spotlight a teammate when they pick their emoji. Peer-to-peer recognition = double the impact.

Employee Appreciation Doesn’t Have to Be Fancy

We’ve seen this over and over again with the teams we work with: the most powerful recognition is specific, sincere, and shared.

It doesn’t need to be perfect. Or polished. Or pricey.

It just needs to be real.

So if you’re looking for a fun, fast way to celebrate your team without breaking the bank…

Bring the balloons.

See Also: How to Make Better, Employee Recognition a Daily Habit

Kickoff the new year with this epic teambuilding activity