Writing congratulations messages at work

Congratulating others on their work achievements isn’t just about being polite. It boosts team morale, encourages good teamwork, and fosters a sense of community with your coworkers.

Whether it's for a big career milestone or a minor accomplishment, taking the time to write a congratulations message can make a significant difference in your working relationships.

In this article, we cover what we mean by a congratulations message, how toapproach writing one, and some example messages to give you ideas.

• What is a congratulations message?
• How to craft a personalised congratulatory message
• Example congratulations messages to use at work
• Tips when writing a personal congratulatory message
• FAQs

What is a congratulations message?

A congratulations message is a brief note that acknowledges someone’s achievement. It can take many forms, but in the workplace it’s likely to be in an email or a handwritten or digital card. While you could say your congratulations in person, it’s a nice gesture to also write your colleague a congratulations message in a card for them to keep.

A genuine message of congratulations helps your coworker feel valued. It also boosts team spirit and strengthens connections between team members, which can lead to increased job satisfaction, better teamwork, and higher overall happiness at work.

How to write a personalised congratulatory message

Not sure where to start for your congratulations message? Here are some tips on how to make your message sincere and personal.

1. Reflect on the recipient

Consider the person you’re writing to and ask yourself:

• What was their achievement and what does it mean to them and the team?
• Do you know their career goals?
• Did they have to overcome any specific challenges to achieve this milestone?

Tailoring your message to include these points will make it more personalised and meaningful, and acknowledges the work they’ve put in. If you know them well, adding a shared experience shows genuine understanding and appreciation of their journey.

2. Be warm and sincere

A congratulations message should be sincere and tailored to the person. To add warmth and sincerity to your message:

• Use heartfelt language
• Acknowledge their work
• Touch on what their achievement means to the team

Avoid overused phrases or cliches, so your message sounds authentic. Keep your tone positive and enthusiastic, mentioning their achievement and wishing them continued success.

3. Balance professionalism and personalisation

Adding a personal touch to your message makes it meaningful, but it’s important to maintain professionalism. To strike the right balance between the two, adjust your message to how well you know the person. Be mindful that others may read your message, so keep it appropriate and avoid using inside jokes.

Example congratulations messages to use at work

Need a starting point for your message? Here are some examples of congratulations messages for different scenarios.

Promotion congratulations messages

• I’ve seen you work so hard over the last year, and I can’t think of anyone who deserves this promotion more. Congratulations, Elias!
• Cheers to you for a job well done, Ramesh! Your creativity impresses us all, and it's no surprise that you got this promotion.
• Congratulations on your promotion, Amy! You’ve definitely earned it after all the work you’ve put in over the last few years. You’re an inspiration to all of us.

Congratulations messages for a new job

• Oliver, congratulations on your new role! I’m sure you’ll be amazing and achieve great things. You’ll be missed here.
• Wishing you all the best in your new job, Bob. They’re lucky to have you on board!
• What an exciting new chapter for you, Cho. I’m sure you’ll do well in your new role – I’ll miss your smiling face around here!

Congratulations messages for an achievement

• Congratulations on your remarkable achievement, Finn! Your hard work and determination have truly paid off.
• What an incredible accomplishment! You’ve set a high bar for all of us. Well done, Jun!
• Kudos to you on this amazing achievement, Simon. Your success is well deserved.

Congratulations message example for coworker

• Hey Noah, I just heard about your achievement. That’s awesome news! Congratulations!
• Charlotte, you did it! I’m so happy for you. Congrats!
• Way to go, Chan! You’ve made us all proud. Congratulations!

Congratulations message example for managers and supervisors

• Congratulations on your well-deserved promotion, Mira. Your leadership and guidance have been invaluable.
• Lana, I’m thrilled to hear about your new role. You’ve earned it with your hard work and dedication. Congratulations!”
• Congratulations on this amazing achievement, Fatima! Your success is an inspiration to all of us.

Congratulations message example for team member

• Faye, it’s been a pleasure working with you and seeing you get the recognition you deserve. Congratulations on your success!
• Well done, Khalid! Your hard work and commitment have truly paid off. Congrats!
• Michael, I’m so happy to see you achieve this milestone. Congratulations and keep up the fantastic work!

Tips when writing a personal congratulatory message

To keep your message sincere, there are some things to keep in mind. Here are some tips to write a message that is personal but professional.

1. Respect personal boundaries

It’s critical you don’t overstep personal boundaries when writing a message of congratulations. For example, a joke about an increased salary is tone deaf and inappropriate. It’s important to stay within the limits of your relationship with the recipient to ensure your message does not read as overly familiar or unprofessional.

2. Steer clear of clichés

When you use clichéd phrases, your message can feel insincere. Avoid overused expressions where possible and personalise the message to make it more meaningful and memorable. A cute rhyme, drawing, or work anecdote relevant to their achievement could make your congrats more original. The exception is if you don’t know the person well, then it’s fine to fall back on well-known expressions.

3. Be mindful of tone and context

Adjust your tone to be more polite for someone who is much more senior to you or who you don’t know well, and more familiar for someone you’re closer to. For example, it would be inappropriate to tell your site manager, ‘Nice work on the promotion, bro!’ but perfectly fine for a coworker.

4. Avoid comparisons

When someone gets a new job, they’re excited and happy to start a new chapter. Keep your message focused on their new prospects, rather than their new salary or benefits. If the person is leaving the company, it’s poor form to bad-mouth your current workplace in your message. Instead, keep your tone light and encouraging.

There may be several times in your work life were you’ll be asked to write a message of congratulations. It’s a handy skill to have, that can transfer to your personal ife as well. By tailoring your message to the recipient, being warm and sincere, and balancing professionalism with a personal touch, you can create a meaningful and memorable message that will be greatly appreciated.

FAQs

What are some good opening lines for a congratulations message?

Good opening lines for a congratulations message include:

• I just heard the great news!
• Congratulations on your achievement!
• Bravo, what an achievement!
• I’m thrilled for you!

Is it okay to congratulate someone on a promotion even if I don't know them well?

Even if you don’t know someone that well, it’s always a nice gesture to congratulate them. Offering a simple but sincere message of congratulations can make their achievement feel recognised, and it can go a long way in building a positive relationship.

How can I personalise my congratulations message for a colleague’s new job, especially if I don’t know much about the new company?

To personalise a message when you don’t know that much about the new role, focus on what you do know about the person’s strengths and achievements, and the positive impact they’ve had. You could mention why you’ve enjoyed working with them and how this will benefit their new company.

For example: Congrats on the new job! Your hard work has always set you apart and I'm confident you'll achieve great things. You've been an incredible colleague and your new team is in for a treat!

A coworker just received an award. Should I mention the specific award in my message, or is a general ‘Congratulations’ enough?

Including the specific award in your message makes it more personal and shows you’ve paid attention to their achievement. It also makes you sound genuinely happy for them.

For example: Congratulations on being named Salesperson of the Year! Your closing skills are truly next-level.

Is it appropriate to offer advice or unsolicited career guidance in a congratulations message?

No, you shouldn’t offer unsolicited advice or career guidance in a congratulations message. Doing this diminishes the happy occasion by taking the focus off celebrating their achievement. You should wait to be asked for advice before offering it.

What if I’m congratulating someone on leaving the company? How can I keep the message positive and well-wishing?

When congratulating someone on leaving the company, focus on your excitement and happiness for their new role and future success.

For example: Congratulations on your new adventure! We’ll miss you, but we’re excited for your next chapter.

Is it better to send a congratulations message via email, text or social media?

How you send your congratulations message depends on your relationship with the recipient. Email is generally appropriate for professional settings, particularly if the message is for a manager or supervisor. If your relationship is less formal, then text or social media may be appropriate. If you’re unsure whether text or social media are the right choice, stick with the formality of email or write them a card. Keep in mind they might want to keep their accomplishment confidential.

What are some common mistakes to avoid when writing congratulations messages?

Some common mistakes to avoid when writing a congratulations message include:

• Being overly familiar or informal
• Focusing on negative aspects rather than positive
• Comparing (to other people, the current company, pay, benefits, etc.)
• Using clichéd phrases
• Talking about yourself
• Crossing the recipient’s personal boundaries
• Offering backhanded compliments
• Telling the recipient they’re ‘lucky’, rather than acknowledging their effort

Should I send a congratulations message even if the achievement feels minor?

Yes, all achievements deserve recognition. Even if the achievement feels minor to you, it may be significant to the person. Sending a congratulations message, no matter how small the achievement, can boost their self-confidence and strengthen your professional relationship with them.