A while back, I was working as an events manager in Shoreditch. In the office stationary cupboard I found a pile of old compliments slips, and thought how rubbish they were because they didn’t actually contain any compliments! I often thought positive stuff about work mates (like how Ben always made me laugh, how Kirsty’s marathon running inspired me to start training for a 10K) but I never told them.

THINGS UP

So, I wrote each person I worked with anonymous compliments on the old slips. I put them on the desks before anyone got in and enjoyed hearing all the laughs as people read them aloud to each other. I also left Post-it notes on the bathroom mirrors saying ‘YOU are the fairest of them all’ and ‘You’re amazing’. (Yes, someone assisted me in the gents!)

It got everyone talking about each other and the compliments continued. (I did confess to the mischief, but not until the end of the day!)

EVERY DAY JOY

Most of us spend more time with work colleagues than with friends and family – so let’s make work happier: remember birthdays, say thanks, well done, hello and goodbye, and deliver that message in person.

Tweet your kindness adventures #BeKind and follow writer and performer Bernadette at BernadetteRussell.com or @betterussell