The Potentiality

John Horn's Website for Community Builders

Creativity

How to Show Love at Work

Expressing gratitude, joy and affection at work boosts productivity and creativity. One effective method is using gratitude jars. Here’s how to show love at work (or school or your community):

  • Create a table with two columns: one for names and one for compliments.
  • Share the table with everyone involved and ask them to write a compliment (or a gratitude comment) for each teammate or classmate (see real and anonymized examples below).
    • Worksheets can be used at home.
    • A spreadsheet or online survey works well for teams.
  • Present the compliments individually, allowing people to reflect privately.

This exercise highlights common themes and helps us understand ourselves through the appreciation of others. Through stronger, more connected relationships communities of all types perform better.

Examples below. Have fun with it!

NAME COMPLIMENT
John Always leads with care. Good storyteller. Creates safe spaces.
Michelle You are silly and cool in a good way and I like how you wear that robe to school!
Mohammed …passionate about his work, and innovative.
Carla You are a must-have friend and teammate.
Samantha You are nice and always lend me your eraser.
A bedazzled and labeled jar with the word "John" on it.
John’s gratitude jar. Bedazzled by colleagues who know how to show love at work.

The list of gratitude statements.
How to Show Love at Work or School.
John Horn is the Founder and Principal of Potentiality Consulting. Over the past 25 years, John has helped leaders reach their community-building potential, bringing a unique professional, intelligent and edutaining style to his seminars, presentations and essays. John applies his talents as a senior people and culture leader, coach (from youth athletes to executives), DIGITAL Canada Advisor, and as an advocate for career development, rare diseases (EPP), and building healthy communities. John lives in Victoria with his wife (who is her own person) and two kids - he loves exploring neighbourhoods via bicycle and making friends through basketball, boardgames, and conversations over coffee.