Integrating KUDOS into your workday is a fantastic way to build healthy working relationships and healthier work habits. Here is how you can weave KUDOS into your daily routine:
Morning: Knowing & Understanding Your Work Day
Start your day by getting yourself ready before the chaos begins.
- Self-Check: Take twenty minutes to identify your current emotional state at work, your top priorities for the day and make sure you have everything to complete your daily goals. Ask yourself, “who do I need to interact with today?”
- Active Empathy: Before your first meeting or social interaction, remind yourself that everyone you encounter has their own goals you may be able to help. Make sure you know how they are helping or working with you on your goals for the day or in your projects.
Mid-Day: Doing & Openness
This is the “action” phase where you engage with people at work.
- Action: Do your work and make sure your colleagues know when they can interrupt. Break one large goal into a day goal task and finish it before lunch. Let people email you if they have a question and respond to them after you finish your morning goal. Thank them for working with you by sending an email (Kudos file the email).
- The Feedback Loop: When someone offers a suggestion or a critique during your breaks or through email, read the email a few times before responding. Keep your response in active reading mode or listening mode.
End of Day Solidarity & Recognition
Wrap up your day by connecting with other teammates, emailing or sharing in a conversation updates or Kudos of appreciation.
- Express Gratitude: Send one quick text or email to a friend or colleague acknowledging something specific they did well during the day or sharing information that might help their goals.
- Daily Review: Before leaving your desk, review what you accomplished that day, what you would like to accomplish tomorrow and what your schedule is tomorrow. Check to see where you may need to interact with your colleagues.
Quick Reference Table: The KUDOS Daily Anchor
| Principle | Daily Application | Small Habit to Start |
| Knowing | Self-awareness | Morning journaling (3 bullets). |
| Understanding | Empathy for others | Pause 3 seconds before responding. |
| Doing | Consistent action | The “Eat the Frog” technique. |
| Learning | Intellectual Growth | Learn a new fact that will help your work. |
| Solidarity | Community support | Give a genuine compliment to your co-workers. |
Day Goal Suggestion
Incorporate a Knowledge Drop into your day: When someone explains a complex concept clearly or shares a resource that saves everyone time. Make the knowledge drop helpful to your work and projects and something in the news.