What is a wins folder and why you should have one

Track those wins

I can say without a doubt that one of the best decisions that I have made since I started my work in community was to create a wins folder on my computer. As a community builder, it is often hard to keep track of the progress and praise that you have directly contributed to and we often feel this the most during the bad days.

Having a wins folder allows us to reflect on the growth and impact we make regularly. Plus, it gives you a special boost when you might need it the most.

Interested in making a wins folder for yourself? Here is how and why I think you should create one today.

Setting it up

First thing is first, what does a wins folder even look like? The short answer here is to make it look any way you would like it to! For me, I created an empty folder on my computer (a reminder to do this off of your work computer that way you always have access to this). I simply titled it “wins” and every time I come across a message that shows praise for my work, I grab a screenshot and drag it in there.

I don’t have it organized by day, date, etc. but I just have a running list of screenshots that I can reference at any point. For me, it is more important to just have a centralized home of these wins that I can keep coming back to and where it doesn’t take much effort to keep adding to.

When to add your wins

Every time you get some love (no matter how big or small you think it might be) add it to your wins folder! Even if the praise seems insignificant to you, take that screenshot and drag it into the folder. One of my favorite sayings is small wins build momentum and they add up.

Tip: If you are thinking if something counts as a win or not, add it in any way. You would rather have a folder full of praise than something half-empty right?

When to check your wins

In reality, this could be (and maybe should be) every day! However, we all get super busy with our lives and we don’t want this to add to the stress of having another thing to add to our to-do list.

For me, I like to check my wins folder like this:

For the good days

When I am feeling good, I check my wins folder just for an extra added serotonin hit. Especially towards the end of the week, it is great to reference before you head into the weekend.

For the bad days

Bad days are inevitable, but with a wins folder sometimes they don’t need to be as bad. If you are going through a particular work issue or just feel a bit down, this is a great time to check in on your wins folder. Remind yourself of the great work that you are doing and to keep pushing forward.

Just because

Want to check your wins folder just because? Why not! Putting yourself in a good mood is never a bad thing, and if you just want to reflect on the impact that you are making then this is a perfect reason to do so!

Level up your wins

Beyond just having a wins folder, you now have some social proof to share and showcase the great work that you have been doing.

Some examples of doing this could be:

• Sharing them on social media to highlight some of your recent wins

• Posting on your company’s Slack or share during your 1:1 meetings as proof of some of your work highlights

• Schedule a future message to yourself with one of your wins for a random surprise and delight

It might seem like a ‘simple’ thing to do, but often the simple things we do in life make the biggest impact. I’d love to hear how your wins folder is working for you in the comments below!