Kudos means praise or recognition given to someone for their efforts or achievements—especially in the workplace.
When you give someone kudos, you’re recognizing what they’ve achieved and showing your appreciation.
Kudos’ meaning comes from the ancient Greek kydos, which means honor, glory, or fame—especially in battle.
Even though kudos’ definition isn’t tied to war anymore, it still means honoring someone— honoring them for what they’ve achieved, the effort they’ve put in, or for the character that they’ve shown.
Giving a person kudos is a form of employee recognition. You’re giving them their moment of well-deserved glory and fame. It’s a way of saying thank you too.
Giving kudos regularly, and making it a central part of your company’s work culture, can have a dramatic effect on various aspects of your business.
Many companies today use kudos—with impressive results.
Key insights
- Kudos in the workplace refers to praise or recognition given to employees for their contributions, achievements, or efforts, reinforcing a culture of appreciation.
- Employee recognition through kudos enhances engagement, morale, and job satisfaction—key factors in boosting retention and productivity.
- Effective ways to give kudos include verbal praise, public shout-outs, handwritten notes, recognition platforms, and personalized messages that highlight specific achievements.
- The benefits of kudos extend beyond individual motivation, contributing to 27% higher profits, lower turnover, and a more loyal, innovative workforce.
- Embedding kudos into company culture—with participation across all levels—creates a healthier, more inclusive, and high-performing work environment.
What are the uses of kudos?
People often say “kudos to you” as a way of expressing praise and admiration to someone who’s really earned it.
But kudos can be much more than a few spoken words.
It could also be a formal event which recognizes deserving professionals in front of the whole company, a written message of appreciation, or even a prize in the form of money or a free lunch.
Kudos can take many forms, with many companies still discovering new and creative ways to express their appreciation even now.
Top 5 ways to give kudos at work
There are many ways that you can give someone kudos in the workplace. You can:
- Say it out loud (or in a message)
A simple “great job” can go a long way. Whether it’s face-to-face, on Slack, or in an email, taking a moment to recognize someone’s effort builds connection and shows you care. - Celebrate wins in team meetings
Give shout-outs during weekly standups or all-hands. Public recognition boosts morale, reinforces values, and encourages others to follow suit. - Send a surprise thank-you
Write a quick note, drop a GIF, or leave a post-it on their desk. Spontaneous kudos feel genuine—and memorable. - Use your company’s recognition tools
Got a kudos platform or HR system like Bob? Use it. Recognition that’s visible, trackable, and easy to share helps create a consistent culture of appreciation. - Make it meaningful
Tailor your kudos to the person. Call out the what (what they did), the how (how they did it), and the why (why it mattered). It turns a nice gesture into something truly impactful.
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What are the benefits of kudos?
Giving people kudos might seem simple and ordinary, but it can have a significant impact on your company.
After all, recognition is known to be a top driver of employee engagement.
Along with engagement, a recognition programme’s benefits include:
- An average of 27 percent higher profits
- Greater retention rates with 31 percent less voluntary turnover
- Increased company loyalty
- A positive environment that attracts talented professionals as new hires
- Increased employee satisfaction
- Improved productivity
- A healthy company culture
- Confidence that drives more innovation and new ideas from teams
What impact does kudos have on company culture?
Companies can gain a lot from ensuring kudos-giving is an established practice in the workplace. It has the potential to completely transform company culture.
But to have the greatest impact, kudos needs to be given by everyone in the company: from the CEO and management teams right through to the most junior professionals.
When people give kudos to each other, regardless of position or seniority, it creates a positive and healthy work culture. A culture that promotes wellbeing and helps professionals to perform at their best.
A kudos-filled workplace elevates the employee experience. People are not only more productive, engaged, and satisfied, but also inspire each other to pursue excellence and help the company grow.
Just a simple act of appreciation or recognitionon an ongoing basis can transform an entire company for the better.
