Spread love, it's the culture way: How to playfully express gratitude in the office

Since originally publishing this post in 2019, ZogCulture has hosted hundreds of company events across the country. Learn more about our in-person and virtual options! 

As a kid, did you buy those pharmacy-branded Valentine’s Day Cards with cheesy sayings like “Just speeding by with Valentine 'Hi'”?

Did you spend hours deliberating whether your fellow 4th graders would appreciate Snoopy or superhero cards more? Or did you buy the boxes of heart candies, so your lucky classmates received both a love note and a stale box of candy? (Hey, it’s the thought that counts).

Believe it or not, there may have been something to those card stock notecards. What we didn’t know at the time is this grade school tradition taught us about gratitude. It taught us how express love to friends, classmates, and teachers. It taught us how to give love to all in a healthy and playful way. What made our younger selves so open to spreading love while as adults we can hardly say “thank you” for a good deed?

Let’s go back to our childhood days and tap into our Snoopy card stack together. It’s time, folks. This year, let’s welcome love at work. Client love, self love, product love, and even love for the journey. In the wise words of everyone’s favorite English rock band, all you need is love (at work).

Our challenge to you: This year, channel your inner grade schooler and bring the love to your office. Bring in those Dove chocolate hearts that each have empowering sayings inside the wrapper (let the record show, this is actually not a paid ad--they’re just that good), send 5 gratitude emails to your coworkers, or go all out with Candy Grams.

In fact, if you want to do Candy Grams--and I know you do because you’re a caring go-getter who can’t help but go the extra mile--we’ve got your starter kit right here! All you have to do is download and print these PDF files that contain the front and back of the cards, and follow the instructions below. We promise you won’t regret the outpouring of love and appreciation that’ll come with this exercise.

Candy Grams of Gratitude Instructions

Goal: Express gratitude in playful ways, bringing you back to your grade school days of candy grams.

How it works: Each person will take one pre-designed card, one ribbon, and a box/ bar of candy. Using the decorations and markers on the table, they have to write a note on the backside of the card. Once they write their gratitude card, they loop a ribbon through the card and tie it to the candy.

Phrases Included:

1. Working with you is SWEET (SweeTarts)
2. TAKING 5 to say thank you (Take 5)
3. I am EXTRA lucky to work with you (Extra gum)
4. Whenever I am in a CRUNCH, you're there for me (Nestlé Crunch)
5. Here's a little holiday JOY for you (Almond Joy)
6. NOW AND LATER I appreciate you (Now and Later's)

Materials:

• Pre-designed candy cards (one side with phrase, one side for personal note, pre-whole punched)
• Sharpies
• Pre-Cut Ribbons
• Scissors
• SweeTarts, Take 5 bars, Extra Gum, Nestlé Crunch bars, Almond Joy and Now and Later’s
• Miscellaneous Decorations and Signage

What are some ways you express appreciation for your coworkers in the office? Let us know in the comments below!