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Kind things to do at work

Workplaces run on a lot of uncredited effort. These are about noticing it out loud — which is free, faster than you think, and much rarer than it should be.

Showing 61–68 of 68 ideas

• Tell someone about the mistake you made

  Sharing your own error is more useful than any advice, and far rarer, because it costs something to say.

  5 minutesFreeA friend

• Sit with whoever came on their own

  At any gathering there is someone standing at the edge working out how soon they can leave.

  Half an hourFreeA stranger

• Send the criticism privately and the praise publicly

  The default is backwards: people praise in private and criticize where everyone can see.

  5 minutesFreeA stranger

• Ask about the person who died

  Grieving people are usually far more afraid of their person being forgotten than of being reminded.

  5 minutesFreeA friend

• Learn the name of someone you see every week

  There is probably someone you have exchanged a hundred nods with and never once asked.

  5 minutesFreeA stranger

• Bring something to whoever has the worst shift

  Someone is working Sunday night, the holiday, or the 5am open. They are having a different day than you.

  Half an hourUnder $10A friend

• Do the thing you keep saying you'll do

  You already promised, and somebody is quietly still waiting. The kindest thing available today is the thing you have already said you would do.

  Half an hourFreeA friend

• Be the one who says the obvious thing

  In most rooms somebody is being talked over and everyone can see it. Saying so out loud costs you one sentence and changes the room.

  5 minutesFreeA friend