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80 office superlatives your coworkers will actually like

Work wins, team players, funny awards, remote awards and “most likely to” titles, all kind.

KraftyLab TeamUpdated 8 min read

Office superlatives work when the person hearing their name smiles, and so does everyone else. Every award below celebrates something a person does, never how they look or what went wrong. Pick 10 to 20, let the team vote, and read one line from the best nomination with each name.

Ground rules for kind superlatives

A superlative is public. These five rules keep the laughs on the right side of the line.

  • Never about looks, weight, age, health, accents or relationships.
  • No mistakes, no "worst" and no "least likely to" awards.
  • Nothing that only makes sense as an inside joke at someone's expense.
  • One award per person, and on a small team, everyone gets one.
  • If you'd hesitate to read it aloud with their manager's manager in the room, cut it.

80 office superlatives for coworkers

Ten per group, each with who it's for. Mix groups so every kind of contribution gets a moment.

Work wins

  1. The Human Search EngineKnows where every file and answer lives.
  2. Problem Solver in ChiefFirst to dig in when something breaks.
  3. Data WhispererTurns a messy export into a clear answer.
  4. Most Valuable PlayerThe year's biggest all-round contribution.
  5. The FinisherGets the last 10 percent done, every time.
  6. Customer ChampionThe customer's voice in every meeting.
  7. Rising StarGrew the most this year.
  8. The Idea MachineNever short of a smart suggestion.
  9. Presentation ProMakes any deck worth watching.
  10. Most OrganizedColor-coded, labeled and always ready.

Team players

  1. Best TeammateThe one everyone wants on their project.
  2. Always Has Your BackSteps in before you have to ask.
  3. Morale BoosterLifts the mood on the hardest weeks.
  4. Best CollaboratorMakes every shared doc better.
  5. Most Generous With CreditAlways names who did the work.
  6. Best New-Hire WelcomerMakes day one feel easy.
  7. The Go-To PersonEveryone's first message when they're stuck.
  8. Bridge BuilderConnects teams that never used to talk.
  9. The Dependable OneSays it'll be done, and it is.
  10. Best MentorTaught the most people the most things.

Communication

  1. Clearest Email WriterShort, kind and impossible to misread.
  2. Best Meeting FacilitatorStarts on time, ends early, decides things.
  3. Best ExplainerMakes complicated things simple.
  4. Master of the Two-Line UpdateEverything you need, nothing you don't.
  5. Best StorytellerTurns any update into a good story.
  6. Most Helpful in ChatAnswers questions nobody else saw.
  7. Best Question AskerAsks the question everyone was thinking.
  8. Best Note-TakerThe reason anyone remembers the meeting.
  9. Calmest Voice in the RoomSteady when things get tense.
  10. Most Thoughtful FeedbackHonest, specific and always useful.

Creative thinkers

  1. Most Creative ThinkerSees an angle nobody else does.
  2. Best BrainstormerFills the whiteboard in five minutes.
  3. Duct Tape AwardFixes anything with what's on hand.
  4. Best Design EyeSpots the misaligned pixel from across the room.
  5. Automation WizardTurned a weekly chore into one click.
  6. Most Curious MindAlways asking why, in the best way.
  7. Best Whiteboard SketchesExplains anything with three boxes and an arrow.
  8. The ExperimenterTries the new thing first.
  9. Out-of-the-Box AwardThe most unexpected good idea of the year.
  10. Best Shortcut FinderKnows the faster way to do everything.

Funny (and kind)

  1. Office ComedianGets a laugh in every meeting.
  2. Pun MasterGroan-worthy, every single time.
  3. Best LaughThe laugh that gets everyone else laughing too.
  4. GIF Hall of FameThe perfect reaction, in under three seconds.
  5. Funniest Out-of-Office MessagePeople email them just to read it.
  6. Best Icebreaker AnswersNever gives a boring answer.
  7. Dad Joke ChampionHas one ready for every occasion.
  8. Best Hype PersonCelebrates every win like a final.
  9. Best Nickname GiverNames for projects, plants and printers.
  10. Emoji ArtistSays more with emoji than most people say with words.

Office life

  1. Snack Sharer of the YearThe desk everyone visits at 3 pm.
  2. Coffee Run HeroAlways asks if you want one too.
  3. Best Lunch RecommendationsKnows every good spot within ten minutes.
  4. Kitchen HeroQuietly empties the dishwasher.
  5. Green Thumb AwardKeeps the office plants alive.
  6. Office DJThe playlist that got everyone through the week.
  7. Potluck ChampionThe dish people ask about all year.
  8. Party Planner ExtraordinaireBehind every great team event.
  9. Birthday KeeperNever misses a card or a cake.
  10. Best Office Tour GuideEvery new hire's first friend.

Remote and hybrid

  1. Best Home Office TourThe setup everyone wants to copy.
  2. Async MasterGets things done without a single meeting.
  3. Best Pet CoworkerFor the human whose pet steals the show.
  4. Global Bridge BuilderMakes every time zone feel included.
  5. Smoothest Screen ShareRight window, first try, every time.
  6. Best Video Call EnergyWakes up every 9 am call.
  7. Most Reliable Status UpdatesYou always know where things stand.
  8. Hybrid HeroAlways loops in the people on the call.
  9. Doorbell Composure AwardNever loses the thread when a delivery arrives.
  10. Best Mug on CameraA new conversation starter every day.

Most likely to

  1. Most Likely to Become CEOAlready thinking three moves ahead.
  2. Most Likely to Write a BestsellerTheir emails are already page-turners.
  3. Most Likely to Know the AnswerBefore you finish the question.
  4. Most Likely to Start a Dance PartyBrings the energy to every event.
  5. Most Likely to Plan the Next OutingHas the group chat and the reservation.
  6. Most Likely to Win a Game ShowUnbeatable at team trivia.
  7. Most Likely to Remember Your Coffee OrderAnd your kids' names, and your birthday.
  8. Most Likely to Visit Every ContinentAlways has the best trip photos.
  9. Most Likely to Invent Something BrilliantAlready has three side projects.
  10. Most Likely to Turn a Bad Day AroundOne message from them and it's better.

How to run the superlatives vote

  1. Pick 10 to 20 categories. Choose from the lists below. On a team under 20, pick one per person so nobody is left out.
  2. Open nominations a week ahead. A short form: category, name and one sentence on why. The sentence is what you'll read aloud.
  3. Cap it at one win per person. If one name tops three categories, they take their favorite and the runner-up gets the rest.
  4. Tally privately. Two people count the votes, and nobody announces early results in chat.
  5. Reveal with a drumroll. Read the category, the best nomination sentence, then the name. Keep each one under a minute.
  6. Hand over something to keep. A printed certificate, a mini trophy or a framed card. Mail them to remote winners the same day.

Short on time? Paste your team’s names into our award generator and every person gets a different title in one click.

Superlatives for remote and hybrid teams

  • Run nominations through a form, not a public thread, so nobody campaigns.
  • Reveal live on the call with a slide per award and cameras on.
  • Ask winners to unmute for a ten-second thank-you, never a speech.
  • Send certificates as a PDF right away and mail a small prize to arrive that week.
  • For hybrid teams, read remote winners first so they're never an afterthought.

Hand them out at a party people remember

Superlatives take 15 minutes. Want someone to run the rest? A live host runs a game show or trivia for about 60 minutes, on Zoom or at your office in 17 US cities. Book about 2 weeks ahead.

Two games, two ways: on Zoom or live at your office, with today’s prices.

More ways to say thank you: employee recognition ideas, work anniversary messages, end-of-year celebration ideas and employee appreciation gifts. Planning the whole event? Get a free quote.

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Real Google reviews from teams we have hosted, and the global event we ran for Meta.

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Connecting 450+ global employees across time zones

They kicked off with high-energy Music Bingo, then split into breakout rooms for coffee tasting, chocolate truffle making and team games.

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Kristen M. · Google review

Trusted by teams at

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Office superlatives FAQ

What are office superlatives?

Office superlatives are light-hearted awards that teammates vote on, like Best Explainer, Office DJ or Most Likely to Know the Answer. They're usually handed out at an end-of-year party, a team offsite or the last meeting before a break.

What are some good superlatives for coworkers?

Reliable favorites include The Human Search Engine, Always Has Your Back, Best Meeting Facilitator, Duct Tape Award, Coffee Run Hero, Hybrid Hero and Most Likely to Become CEO. Pick a mix of work wins, team spirit and fun so every kind of contribution gets noticed.

What are funny but appropriate work superlatives?

Pun Master, Dad Joke Champion, GIF Hall of Fame, Funniest Out-of-Office Message, Doorbell Composure Award and Best Nickname Giver are funny without making anyone the butt of the joke. Avoid anything about looks, age, mistakes or private life.

How do you vote on office superlatives?

Open a short nomination form a week ahead: category, name and one sentence on why. Cap wins at one per person, have two people tally privately, and reveal winners with the best nomination sentence read aloud.

How do you do superlatives for a remote team?

Collect nominations in a form, reveal each award live on a video call with one slide per category, and send PDF certificates right away. Mail a small prize so it arrives the same week. On hybrid teams, read remote winners first.

How many superlatives should you give out?

On teams under 20, give everyone one. On bigger teams, 10 to 20 categories keep the reveal under 20 minutes. Our award generator can assign a different title to every name on your list in one click.

How do you keep superlatives from hurting feelings?

Keep every award positive, never about looks, age, health or mistakes, and make sure no one is left out on a small team. Read each title aloud to yourself first: if you'd hesitate to say it in front of senior leadership, cut it.

What are good 'most likely to' superlatives for work?

Most Likely to Become CEO, Most Likely to Know the Answer, Most Likely to Start a Dance Party, Most Likely to Win a Game Show and Most Likely to Remember Your Coffee Order are all kind and easy to vote on.

Make the awards night unforgettable

Send us your date and headcount. You get a hosted game plan for your party within 24 hours.

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