You found our list of fun employee spotlight ideas.
Employee spotlights are features that highlights individual employees to recognize their contributions and achievements. For example, a company may spotlight an employee who has excelled in sales, another who has led a successful project, and a third who consistently goes above and beyond in customer service. These spotlights aim to acknowledge and celebrate team members’ hard work and success, boosting morale and motivation. These spotlights are also known as “company spotlights,” “team spotlights,” “employee profiles,” and “employee shoutouts.”
This concept is a form of employee recognition similar to employee recognition program ideas, employee recognition boards, and employee appreciation quotes.
This list includes:
- employee spotlight templates
- employee spotlight questions
- employee spotlight examples
- employee spotlight ideas
- team spotlight ideas
Let’s get to it!
List of employee spotlight ideas
From welcoming new team members to celebrating significant milestones, here is our list of the best types of employee spotlights.
1. Welcome Introduction
A welcome introduction in an employee spotlight article is essential for making new team members feel valued and appreciated. This spotlight provides a quick overview of the individual, their background, a new role in the company, and a few fun personal facts and interests. These announcements keep current employees updated on new hires and help them get to know their new coworkers while also making new team members onboard and feel like part of the team and the company faster.
Make it interesting: To create a standout welcome spotlight, try a creative “Day in the Life” vlog where new hires give a fun, behind-the-scenes look at their first week. Or, host an interactive AMA session with quirky, themed questions to engage the team. You could even include a “Newbie Playlist” that shows off the new team member’s favorite songs.
These original ideas make the spotlight more engaging and foster a stronger connection among teammates.
Check out more new hire announcement examples.
2. Executive Highlights
Executive Highlights capture a leader’s achievements and impact within a company. These spotlights highlight the significant contributions made by individuals in leadership positions, showcasing strategic decisions, successful projects, and positive influences that executives bring to an organization. These highlights inspire other employees, impress clients, and foster a culture of excellence within the workplace. Such spotlights can also humanize leadership and build a rapport between them and the rest of the company.
Since executives are busy, the easiest option may be to encourage them to record answers on a voice memo app in their spare time for you to transcribe later.
Make it interesting: Consider an “Executive Myth-Busting” series where the leader debunks common misconceptions about their role or industry, or a “Behind the Decisions” mini-series, where executives break down key company decisions, giving the team insight into the thought processes and challenges involved.
Read about executive skills.
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3. Team Achievements
Highlighting shared successes is one of the best team spotlight ideas. A team spotlight highlights the value of teamwork, boosting unity and motivation. Recognizing group contributions and successes makes employees feel valued and encourages continued collaboration. Publicly celebrating achievements fosters a culture of appreciation and sets a positive example, showing that working together toward shared goals leads to success.
Make it interesting: Try a “Team Superpowers” series where each member shares their hidden strengths or an unusual skill they bring to the table. Pair it with a “Mission Impossible” challenge where the team tackles a fun, out-of-the-box task together and documents their journey.
Learn more about team celebration ideas
4. Project Spotlights
Project spotlights are a powerful tool to showcase the dedication and innovation of employees within organizations. These features highlight projects that have significantly impacted the company, offering recognition and inspiration for other teams and employees to excel. By sharing success stories and best practices, project spotlights encourage collaboration, continuous improvement, and a sense of community among team members. These profiles also give other teams inspiration and ideas for executing projects.
Make it interesting: Try a “Project Time Capsule” where the employee reflects on the biggest challenges and wins, then forecasts what the project will look like in the future. Or, a Behind the Curtain” look at the tools and strategies they used to overcome obstacles.
5. Customer Service Stars
Customer Service Stars are exceptional employees who go above and beyond to ensure customer satisfaction. With solid communication and problem-solving skills and a genuine passion for helping others, these employees shine in handling difficult situations with empathy.
To create this type of spotlight, identify employees who consistently exceed expectations and handle challenging situations gracefully. Be sure to highlight their achievements through a company-wide announcement or newsletter, sharing specific examples of their exceptional service. These shoutouts foster a culture of customer service excellence and motivate other employees to follow their example.
Make it interesting: Feature a “Customer Story” where the employee shares a particularly memorable or challenging customer interaction and how they turned it around. Quote glowing client reviews as social proof.
Check out customer service quotes.
6. Behind the Scenes
Behind-the-scenes or “Day in the Life” spotlights show how a role or company operates, revealing the hidden work that contributes to the larger mission. This feature focuses on the effort, commitment, and collaboration of employees working behind the scenes. Acknowledging these individuals promotes unity and gratitude in the workplace.
These spotlights provide helpful insights into how the company works and recognizes the employees who make projects happen. This format works well as a blog post but it also is a great idea for videos.
Make it interesting: Have employees share a behind-the-scenes task or project that often goes unnoticed but is crucial to the team’s success, like organizing team resources or setting up meetings. Pair this with a “Flashback Friday” element, where they reflect on how their role or team has evolved over time.
7. Career Journey
Employees gain valuable skills and knowledge that shape their growth as they move through different roles. A career journey employee spotlight celebrates growth, challenges, and achievements over time. You can highlight the employee’s first role, key moments of progress, and the skills they have gained.
Feel free to include an interview where the subject reflects on goals, setbacks, and lessons learned. Then, connect their journey to company values to inspire other employees and show that success is continuous. This particular spotlight motivates employees to set their own career goals while fostering a culture of growth and perseverance.
Make it interesting: Encourage employees to share pivotal “aha” moments or unexpected opportunities that led them to where they are today. Add a fun “What If?” segment where they imagine an alternate career they might have pursued and why.
8. Skill Set Showcase
A skills showcase employee spotlight is a great way to highlight the unique talents and expertise of individuals within your team. This type of spotlight focuses on the skills an employee brings, whether it’s their technical abilities, leadership qualities, or creativity.
To create an impactful skills showcase, identify the employees’ standout strengths and share examples of how their teammates applied them in their work. You could feature a brief interview where the honoree shares their approach to mastering their skills, any challenges they have faced, and tips for peers looking to improve. Be sure to incorporate a project or accomplishment that highlights their abilities in action.
Make it interesting: Feature a “Skill Swap” segment where they share a skill outside their official role that enhances their work, such as a hidden talent or a hobby that boosts creativity. Pair this with a “Skill in Action” challenge, where the employee demonstrates their unique skill in a real-work scenario or through a fun, hands-on project.
9. Employee Stories
Stories of employees play a crucial role in any employee spotlight. These anecdotes offer a glimpse into the varied experiences and viewpoints within a workplace. Sharing such narratives can build a sense of unity among colleagues and highlight each team member’s distinct skills and histories. These spotlights can also deepen coworkers’ understanding of each other by exposing new, non-work facets of the profiled team members’ personalities.
Make it interesting: Do a “Story Slam” video where employees act out the tale, or add a “Legacy Moment” where they reflect on the impact they hope to leave at the company.
10. Leadership Focus
A leadership employee spotlight is a fantastic way to recognize individuals who demonstrate exceptional leadership skills. This type of spotlight shines a light on employees who motivate their teams, foster collaboration, and drive results with a positive, forward-thinking attitude.
To feature a leadership spotlight, collect specific examples of how the employee has shown leadership in action. For example, focus on strategies for leading a project, breakthroughs mentoring colleagues, or confidently navigating challenges.
You can interview the profile subject on their leadership philosophy, what inspires them, and how they motivate their team to achieve shared goals. Highlighting their impact celebrates their contributions but also encourages others to cultivate their leadership skills, creating a culture of growth and ambition across the organization.
Make it interesting: Feature a “Leadership Philosophy” segment where they reflect on the lessons that shaped their leadership style, paired with a story of how they’ve navigated a tough decision. Add a “Future Forward” element, where they share their goals for the team or company and how they plan to inspire growth.
11. Remote Workers
A remote worker employee spotlight highlights the contributions of those employees who may not have the same visibility as in-office staff. Remote workers often feel disconnected, so this spotlight is a great way to celebrate their achievements and maintain team unity. You should focus on how these employees succeeds in a virtual environment, emphasizing their work, communication, and collaboration. Also, ask your subjects to share tips for staying motivated and connected. Recognizing remote workers helps bridge gaps, fostering a culture of appreciation and inclusion across all work settings.
Make it interesting: Ask virtual teammates to share their favorite remote work ritual or space setup that helps them stay focused and energized. Add a “Virtual Collaboration” element where they highlight a project they’ve worked on with teammates from different locations, showcasing their communication and adaptability.
Read about avoiding remote burnout.
12. Award Winners
A profile an award winner is one of the most common employee spotlight examples. This type of spotlight is a powerful way to celebrate outstanding achievements and recognize hard work. This type of spotlight highlights an employee who has been recognized for their exceptional performance, whether through an internal award or industry recognition.
To make the spotlight engaging, focus on the specifics of the award, sharing the criteria for the achievement and how the employee went above and beyond to earn it. Also, ask the awardee to reflect on the experience, what the award means, and how they stay motivated to achieve excellence.
Make it interesting: Spotlight a “Path to Victory” story where the employee shares the obstacles they overcame and the skills they developed along the way. Have the employee snap a selfie with their award.
Learn more about employee award ceremonies.
13. Work Anniversary
An employee spotlight on a work anniversary is a great way to celebrate loyalty and long-term contributions within your organization. This type of spotlight focuses on employees who have reached a milestone in their time with the company, whether it’s one year, five years, or beyond.
To make the spotlight meaningful, share highlights of this team member’s journey with the company, such as key projects, accomplishments, and growth over the years. You can include quotes where the team member reflects on their experiences, lessons learned, and what they have enjoyed most about their role.
Celebrating work anniversaries not shows appreciation, strengthens team morale, and may even improve retention.
Make it interesting: Have the employee share a “defining moment” from various years they have been with the company, such as a project, a team-building experience, or personal growth. Include a “Thank You” section, where coworkers and managers share how the employee’s contributions have made an impact.
Check out work anniversary ideas.
14. Fun Facts
An interesting facts spotlight allows employees to connect through sharing hobbies and travel experiences. This shoutout helps build camaraderie and team spirit, creating a work culture where individuals feel valued for more than just their job responsibilities. Promoting the sharing of exciting facts helps cultivate a positive workplace culture that embraces diversity and inclusivity. By adding personal anecdotes to the workplace, companies can improve relationships among colleagues, increasing morale and productivity in a supportive and collaborative environment.
Make it interesting: Ask the employee to include a mix of fun facts, like a hidden talent, an unusual hobby, or even an “embarrassing” moment that others can relate to. You could even create an interactive “Two Truths and a Lie” quiz where readers will have to guess which fact is fictional.
Here are fun facts of the day.
Employee spotlight questions
Here are example questions for employee spotlights.
- What’s a fun fact about you that most people here don’t know?
- If you could swap roles with anyone in the company for a day, who would it be and why?
- What was your first job, and what did it teach you?
- What’s your go-to productivity hack when you’re feeling stuck?
- What’s the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received?
- What’s one skill you’re currently working on improving?
- What’s the most rewarding part of your job that others might not realize?
- What’s a challenge you’ve faced here that made you stronger?
- What book, podcast, or TED talk has had the biggest impact on your career?
- If you weren’t in your current role, what would your dream job be?
- What’s the best project you’ve worked on, and what made it special?
- How do you stay motivated when working on a long-term project?
- What’s the most surprising thing you’ve learned since joining the company?
- What’s one thing you’re passionate about outside of work?
- How do you keep a work-life balance, especially when things get busy?
- What’s your favorite way to unwind after a challenging workday?
- What’s one thing you’d like to achieve in the next year, either personally or professionally?
- What’s the funniest or most memorable moment you’ve had at work?
- What’s the best team-building activity you’ve participated in here?
- If you could have lunch with any historical figure, who would it be and why?
- How do you celebrate your successes, big or small?
- What’s something you’re excited to learn or explore in your role next?
- What makes you proud to work here?
- If you had to describe the culture of our company in three words, what would they be?
- What’s a hidden talent or hobby you have that could surprise your coworkers?
You can check out random questions and get to know you questions for more inspiration.
Employee spotlight templates
1. Quick Team Introduction Spotlight “Meet [Employee Name], our [Job Title]! In [his/her/their] time with us, [Employee Name] has been instrumental in [key contribution]. Outside of work, [Employee Name] loves [personal hobby]. Fun fact: [Fun Fact]! We’re so lucky to have [Employee Name] as part of our team!”
2. Growth & Impact Spotlight “Congratulations to [Employee Name], who’s celebrating [X] years with the team! Over the years, [Employee Name] has grown from [brief description of start] to [current role/achievement]. [Employee Name] is always [mention key strengths], and we appreciate [his/her/their] impact on [specific project/team]. Keep shining, [Employee Name]!”
3. Fun & Personal Spotlight “Say hello to [Employee Name]! [Employee Name] joined us as [Job Title], and since then, [he/she/they] have amazed us with [specific skill or quality]. When [he/she/they] aren’t [work-related task], you’ll find [Employee Name] [personal hobby or activity]. Thanks for bringing your energy and expertise to the team, [Employee Name]!”
5. Personality & Team Spirit Spotlight “Meet [Employee Name], who brings an incredible amount of positivity and energy to the team. Whether it’s [specific action or trait], [Employee Name] always knows how to [add value/bring people together]. We love having [him/her/them] around!”
6. Passion & Dedication Spotlight “Introducing [Employee Name], who’s been an absolute rockstar in [department/project]. What sets [Employee Name] apart is [his/her/their] passion for [specific task or project], and the way [he/she/they] tackle challenges head-on. Thanks for always going the extra mile, [Employee Name]!”
Final Thoughts
Employee spotlights serve as a powerful tool for enhancing engagement within the workplace. Organizations foster a culture of appreciation and visibility by recognizing individuals across various categories such as leadership roles or fun personal facts. These initiatives highlight professional achievements, humanize the workforce, and strengthen connections among team members across all levels of the organization while also building a robust employer brand.
Next, check out our posts on employee advocacy and employee of the month ideas.
