Good recognition is specific. The problem is that specificity is hard to produce on the spot, especially when you're trying to write something between meetings. Most people end up with "great job on the launch" when what they actually meant was something much more particular.
Sprout exists to close that gap. It asks for context, then helps you shape it into words. It does not write recognition on your behalf and it does not invent details you didn't provide.
Sprout is available in Slack, Microsoft Teams, and the web app.
How it works
1. Give Sprout something to work with
Open Sprout from the composer and type whatever you have. There's no format to follow. A fragment, a bullet, or a few sentences of stream of consciousness are all fine.
Some examples of useful starting input:
"Grace covered two of my meetings while I was out sick, make sure she knows it didn't go unnoticed."
"Daniel launch went well, he caught the pricing bug before it shipped"
"want to thank Priya for the client call last Thursday"
2. Sprout checks whether it has enough
If there's enough detail to write strong recognition, Sprout writes a draft.
If there isn't, it asks a follow-up question tailored to what you wrote. Not a generic form field, but something specific to your situation. A vague note about a launch might get: "What was a moment in Daniel's work on the launch that felt especially impactful to the team?"
Answer it and Sprout writes the draft.
3. Refine the draft
You're not stuck with the first version. From the draft you can:
Action | What it does |
|---|---|
Edit directly | Change the text yourself, same as any message field |
Add context | Give Sprout more detail and have it rewrite |
Try again | Generate a different take on the same input |
Tone tuners | Shift the register with options like funnier, more sincere, or shorter |
Tone tuners can be applied more than once, so you can keep nudging until it sounds like you.
4. Send it
Once the message reads right, send the shoutout directly from the Sprout window. You don't need to copy it back into the composer.
Getting better results
Name the specific action. "Covered my meetings while I was out" gives Sprout more to work with than "was helpful."
Say why it mattered. The impact is usually what makes recognition land. If you mention that it let you take a sick day without worrying, Sprout can use that.
Answer the follow-up honestly. If Sprout asks a question, it's because the draft would be generic without an answer. A one-line reply is enough.
Edit freely. Sprout produces a starting point, not a finished product. The version you send should sound like you wrote it, because you did.
Common questions
Does Sprout make things up?
No. Sprout works from the context you provide. If it doesn't have enough, it asks rather than filling in gaps.
Can I still write my own shoutouts?
Yes. Sprout is entirely optional. If you like what you've written, send it without opening Sprout at all. Nothing about the standard composer has changed.
Does the recipient know Sprout was used?
No. The shoutout appears exactly as any other.
Why can't I see Sprout?
Your organization may have turned it off. Check with your HiThrive admin.
💡 New to Shoutouts generally? See our full guide on sending shoutouts for the complete composer walkthrough.