Why Does HeyTaco Have Giving and Receiving Leaderboards?

At HeyTaco, positive recognition is critical to building a thriving workplace culture. A central part of our platform's success is giving and receiving leaderboards, which provide insights into how employees engage with appreciation.

You might wonder, why track both? Explore why these two leaderboards are essential to fostering a healthier, more productive culture.

The Giving Leaderboard: Recognizing the recognizers

The giving leaderboard spotlights people who go out of their way to show appreciation for their colleagues. Recognition is typically associated with the person receiving it, but giving recognition is equally important.

1. It encourages proactive recognition.
One of the biggest challenges in workplace culture is getting people to recognize one another on the spot.

Observing instant positive feedback motivates employees to stay mindful of the positive actions happening around them. When people see that their peers are being acknowledged for sharing recognition, they do the same. It's a form of social proof that establishes recognition as a normal part of the team dynamic.

2. It fosters gratitude and connection.
There's something powerful about being the one to recognize someone else. Research shows that those who regularly express gratitude feel more connected and engaged at work. The giving leaderboard highlights individuals spreading positivity and building relationships through appreciation, contributing to stronger team cohesion.

3. Promotes leadership through recognition.

The giving leaderboard doesn't just track who's doing well in their role. It identifies the people leading by fostering an environment of recognition.

Those who frequently appear on the giving leaderboard often demonstrate leadership qualities. They notice when their peers go above and beyond and take the time to give recognition. These individuals naturally help shape the culture by being role models for appreciation.

The Receiving Leaderboard: Celebrating contributions

The receiving leaderboard celebrates the people whose efforts are being recognized. This can include many contributions, from small acts of kindness to significant accomplishments.

1. Celebrating contributions, no matter how small.
The receiving leaderboard ensures that recognition goes public. Visibility helps boost morale across the team. Whether someone's effort is great or small, seeing their name on the board validates that their work is being appreciated. This visibility is essential for creating a culture where everyone feels seen, valued, and connected.

2. It reinforces positive behaviors.
Recognition isn't about warm and fuzzy feelings. We use it to set expectations and assure people they belong. When an employee is regularly recognized and shows up on the receiving leaderboard, it signals to them (and others) that their actions align with the company's values. This creates a feedback loop that encourages people to continue contributing positively to the team.

3. Improves job satisfaction and motivation.
Being recognized for hard work is one of the simplest and most effective ways to improve job satisfaction. The receiving leaderboard helps employees feel valued, leading to higher motivation and engagement. People who are consistently recognized are more likely to stay with their company, stay engaged in their work, and feel a sense of belonging.

Why are both leaderboards essential for a balanced culture?

Research using HeyTaco has made a case for going giver-only. So, why might some teams choose to acknowledge both givers and receivers? The answer lies in the balance that both leaderboards can create. Making both visible may reinforce recognition as a mutual, ongoing practice rather than a one-sided exchange.

1. Recognition that flows in both directions.

With two separate leaderboards, HeyTaco ensures that everyone contributes to the culture of recognition. The giving leaderboard encourages employees to be active in offering recognition. The receiving leaderboard celebrates the positive impact of those efforts. Both givers and receivers play a critical role in making recognition an everyday practice.

2. Balances the focus on individuals and teams.
Separating the giving and receiving leaderboards means we avoid overemphasizing one side of the recognition equation. The giving leaderboard reinforces that everyone can and should contribute to team morale. Meanwhile, the receiving leaderboard celebrates a broader array of contributions. This balanced approach ensures that individual contributions and team dynamics are equally valued.

3. Encourages a positive feedback loop.
Positive feedback loops reinforce and amplify the impact of behaviors we want to encourage. Employees are motivated to give recognition because they see it improve their working relationships. At the same time, those receiving recognition are more likely to pay it forward. This appreciation cycle energizes and connects teams. Making weekly or monthly leaderboard recaps a team ritual makes it even more inclusive.

Making appreciation a part of who you are

HeyTaco's dual leaderboards represent more than just tracking who gives or receives the most tacos. They symbolize the power of recognition to build stronger companies. It’s a daily practice that makes its way through every person, team, and department, leaving no one unrecognized. After all, it's not just about the tacos—it's about making appreciation a part of who you are.

HeyTaco giving and receiving leaderboards FAQ

Do you have to display both leaderboards?

No, Giver Mode is where you only display giving leaderboards. This is the right choice for organizations that want to emphasize generosity in recognition, not who collects the most tacos.

There is no receiver-only mode; there really wouldn’t be many benefits there.

Can someone be #1 on both the giving and receiving leaderboards?

Yes, and on Slack, you can share a Combined leaderboard. It’ll display totals of tacos both given and received.

Are leaderboards useful for performance reviews?

No, that’s not the intention at all here. Leaderboards track how many virtual tacos are exchanged, not how good someone is at their job. You may observe employees whose participation isn’t as high. We suggest giving them a taco to get them into the groove.

Can’t someone just spam tacos to dominate the giving leaderboard?

Afraid not! There is a daily taco limit (five by default) to help keep the gesture meaningful. If someone randomly gives away all of their tacos every day, everyone’s going to notice. Hardly a cause for celebration.

Won’t being at the bottom of the leaderboard make people feel bad?

This is yet another case where Giver Mode can help. Ending up at the bottom of the giving leaderboard says nothing about how capable or valued someone is. What it may do is inspire the bottom-dweller to keep an eye out for more opportunities to recognize their colleagues.

If someone ends up low on the receiver board, their contributions may not be as visible as others’, so take a closer look. Celebrating even the smallest wins or positive behaviors ensures everyone is getting enough recognition.