High Fives in a Remote World: Celebrating Wins Across Screens
How Kenility boosts morale and connection through async recognition in a remote-first tech culture
The high five is one of the most universally recognized gestures of appreciation. A way to say “well done”, “you nailed it”, or simply “I see you.”
But in a remote-first environment, these spontaneous acts of celebration aren’t as easy to replicate. There's no water cooler, no desk to stop by, no quick pat on the back after a sprint review.
A Gallup study found that employees who receive consistent recognition are 4.6 times more likely to be actively engaged in their roles.
In remote environments, where visibility is naturally lower, this kind of acknowledgment becomes even more critical to build trust, alignment, and emotional connection.
The real challenge becomes: How do we celebrate success when our teams are distributed across screens, borders, and time zones?
That’s where intentional culture comes into play.
At Kenility, we’re using National High Five Day as a moment to reflect on how we recognize one another, not just today, but every day.
Working remotely requires new habits. And one of the most powerful is recognition.
In tech environments where output and deadlines dominate attention, it’s easy to overlook the small moments that make the difference: the person who caught a last-minute bug, the designer who thought two steps ahead, the colleague who brought calm energy to a difficult week.
We believe that software is not only built through processes and technology — it’s built by people.
And people thrive when they know their work is seen and appreciated.
What a High Five Looks Like at Kenility?
We do share rituals of appreciation. At Kenility, a “high five” might look like:
- A simple Slack emoji reaction to a brilliant idea
- A spontaneous shoutout during a standup
- A thank-you message from someone in another country
- A group applause on Google Meet after wrapping up a tough milestone
These small gestures may seem minor, but they reinforce something powerful: connection.
They remind each of us that even in a fully digital environment, we’re not building in isolation.
Our High Five Moments
Here are a few examples of the types of wins we celebrate at Kenility — quietly, publicly, or asynchronously:
- When a developer offers a thoughtful “why,” not just a technical “how”
- When a designer anticipates edge cases that others miss
- When a product owner balances priorities with clarity and empathy
- When someone in operations steps up before anyone asks
These are the building blocks of trust — and trust is the foundation of any high-performing team.
The ROI of Recognition in Remote Teams
Remote-first workforces face a unique challenge: maintaining human connection without physical presence.
Recognition is a strategic tool. It creates psychological safety, drives retention, and fosters a culture where people are intrinsically motivated.
And in a world where great talent has choices, that matters more than ever.
Culture is Built in the Small Moments. National High Five Day may be light-hearted, but its message is profound:
Recognition doesn’t have to be grand — it just has to be intentional.
At Kenility, we’ve embedded appreciation into our workflow: not through policies, but through practice.
We’ll keep giving high fives. On Slack. On Meet. Across continents.
Because great software isn’t just built with a process.
It’s built by people who feel seen.
Who do you need to acknowledge today?
Ready to build with a team that values both product and people?