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June 9, 2025FURTHER EXPERTISE
How to share good news at work (so that it actually makes an impact)
Expert Opinion from Rich Watts published May 29, 2025
Sharing good news within your team or organisation might seem like a nice-to-have but in reality, it’s a really powerful communication tool. When done well, sharing positive news can motivate teams, strengthen company culture and reinforce progress towards your business goals.
Sharing good news is a chance to spotlight achievements, recognise contributions and remind those around you that their work really matters. But like any form of communication, how you share good news determines whether it truly resonates or if it simply falls flat.
In this article, we’ll explore some practical, proven ways to make sure your good news travels further, lands well, and creates the positive effect you’re aiming for.
MEASUREMENT
What effect should good news have on your team?
Before we get to the how, it’s worth considering how we measure the success of our attempts to share good news. What symbolises success when sharing good news?
In most cases, the goal is twofold:
- Reach – you want as many of the right people as possible to hear the good news.
- Positive emotional response – you want people to feel something good when they hear the news: pride, excitement, optimism, or simply connection.
Successfully sharing good news with your team might look like high levels of engagement (comments, forwards, in-person conversations), a visible mood shift within the team, or even a renewed sense of energy and commitment to shared goals.
With that in mind, let’s explore how to make your good news go further.
Successfully sharing good news with your team might look like high levels of engagement, a visible mood shift within the team, or even a renewed commitment to shared goals.
HOW TO...
1. Choose the Right Channel
Not all platforms are equal when it comes to good news. Take a moment to consider:
- Which internal channels do people actually read or engage with?
- What format suits the tone of the news? (Is it formal, personal, celebratory, or all three?)
A quick note in a Slack or Teams channel might work brilliantly for team-level wins, but a more significant achievement might deserve a mention in a company-wide email, a town hall meeting, or even a physical noticeboard.
Remember, the right message in the right place equals the right impact.
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2. Explain Why It’s Good News
Don’t assume the positive takeaway from your news is obvious to everyone.
Spell it out.
- What exactly is the win?
- How does it help the team, department, or wider organisation?
- What problem has been solved or progress made?
When people understand why something is being celebrated, they’re much more likely to connect with it and feel part of the success.
3. Make It Relevant to Your Audience
One of the biggest mistakes leaders make when sharing good news is framing it around their own perspective. Actually, when most people hear good news they naturally ask themselves: “What’s in it for me?”
Make sure your message addresses:
- How does this affect them?
- What opportunities, benefits or improvements does it create for them?
- What does it say about the team or organisation they’re part of?
If the news doesn’t impact your audience directly, consider how it reflects positively on the wider group they belong to. Relevance is everything.
4. Add Positive Emotion
Cold, factual updates might get the message across – but they won’t inspire or energise your team.
To really land the message:
- Use emotional language that conveys pride, excitement or gratitude.
- If appropriate, use photos, quotes or reactions from people involved.
- If you are delivering the news in person, let your own genuine emotion show – it creates connection.
A little enthusiasm goes a long way. When people see leaders celebrating success with energy and sincerity, they’re far more likely to reflect that emotion and join in.
5. Tell People What to Do Next
Don’t leave your audience hanging. Every great communication ends with clarity on what happens next.
When sharing good news, that could mean:
Celebration: “Take a moment to give the team a shoutout.”
Momentum: “Let’s build on this and keep pushing forward.”
Reflection: “If you’ve played a part in this, thank you.”
Whatever it is, make sure your audience knows what this moment means for them, and how they should respond.
IN CONCLUSION
Final Thoughts
Sharing good news might feel small in the grand scheme of leadership responsibilities but the ripple effect can be significant. A well-timed, well-communicated message of success can boost morale, reinforce your values, and remind your people that progress is happening.
So keep your eyes open for those wins both the big ones and the small ones too. When you find those all important wins, use the tips above to share the good news in a way that inspires, energises and connects.
Because good news is always worth sharing. But great communication makes it stick.
