Kris Taylor is a consultant who assists corporations in change management. I've gotten to know Kris and her business through my Association of Women Business Owners group. I appreciate the way Kris puts her writing skills to work in her marketing. She sends occasional letters to her network—actual "snail mail" letters—with a personal reflection that's somehow impacted her business. It's like blogging via the US Postal Service, and I've not received one yet that's wasn't worth the read.

This month's letter centers around Valentine's Day and February as the month we focus on love. She closes her letter with a list of ways you can "show some love at work."

With Kris's permission, I share that with you here:


What if you…
• Sent a personal note of appreciation to 2 people at work each week
• Had a surprise indoor picnic to break the winter blues
• Sent your team home early on Friday after meeting a very big goal
• Created a space where people could post photos of their loved ones
• Challenge everyone in your next meeting to share as many positive thoughts as they can in three minutes
• Decorate the break room and bring in some special treats
• Asked your customers what they appreciate about your team’s work and shared that information in very visible ways
• Made breakfast for your staff
• Had an ice cream social
• Passed out Kudos candy bars when your team reaches a goal or milestone
• Sent a gift or thank you to the spouses / families  in appreciation for their support of long hours put into a project or heavy work time
• Start a meeting by sharing what you appreciate about each person there
• Have people share what they “love” about work at the start of a meeting
• Take one employee to lunch each week for some positive one on one time
• Schedule an afternoon recess one day – 20 minutes of a fun, physical activity
• Send Thank You balloons to recognize an accomplishment
• Asked each person on your team how they like to be recognized and then followed through during the year at appropriate times
• Gave 4 positive statements for every negative one
• Have a group laugh – two minutes of steady laughter together
• Create a team birthday celebration ritual
• Play hooky one afternoon and do something fun together
• Found a way to unleash the power of appreciation and had a team that loved their work


I first explored this idea in my Saying Thank You post almost a year ago. Thanks, Kris, for letting me revisit this incredibly important and so often overlooked idea!