KudoGrams – Giving Kudos at Work

Giving Kudos at Work should be a daily practice. However, it’s also a great learning activity — a way to identify and magnify positive behaviors and growth opportunities in lived experiences. Use Kudo-grams for mindset courses, strength-based activities, warm-ups, and energizers, as kudos notes help introduce growth mindsets and other positive behaviors.

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Materials

Green KUDOS for Growth note pads — 1 sheet (“task card”) per participant
Huddle Signs for the three categories of positive behavior: MAXIMIZING MISTAKES / EXHIBITING EFFORT / MAKING CONTRIBUTIONS (see below)

Time

Plan on approximately 30 minutes

Activities

1 = INDIVIDUAL TASK TO ENGAGE EVERY PARTICIPANT
(5 minutes)

Read the list of behaviors that indicate a growth mind-state is at work.
Call for a SHOUT OUT as to what P.S. stands for (Postscript) in Millennial-lingo, they might say xxx
“My Good” Activity – ask which of these behaviors are you already doing well? Give yourself KUDO credit. Express gratitude to yourself. Have participants select one behavior they consider a personal strength.
Check One Box Activity—explain, even though you could be checking multiple boxes, recall a specific time you practiced this growth behavior.
WRITE a P.S. note-to-self – Recall what happened when you did good. Jot down the impact or outcome regarding you and this behavior in that specific situation.
PREPARE to share if and what you choose to share about this story.

2 = PAIR SHARE With ONE thought partner (after individual reflection)
(~ 8 minutes)

SWAP notes & TELL A STORY of a time when you practiced / exhibited that positive behavior. How did you feel regarding yourself & your job satisfaction? What do you believe was the positive impact/ outcome?
LISTEN to your partner’s feedback/ reaction/ comments

4 = TASK TEAM -Small Group collegial conversations
(~ 12 minutes)

HUDDLE/ gather/ shift/ move to three common ground corners Consider dividing participants into three groupings (MAXIMIZING MISTAKES / EXHIBITING EFFORT/ MAKING CONTRIBUTIONS). Post these on the wall or distribute them on a handout. Invite them to choose which they believe is the best fit for the growth behavior in their story. Of course, it doesn’t matter which huddle they join.
SHARE interesting story examples of these behaviors
DISCUSS the positive impact/ outcomes of these behaviors
PREPARE a spokesperson to summarize the + impact/outcomes (not stories)

ALL = WHOLE GROUP FOCUS
(~ 10 minutes)

Have all RETURN to their seats
Invite reports by each spokesperson
“Wannabe” Behaviors: Revisit the KUDO behaviors on the sheet and have everyone check one behavior they aspire to have or practice.

CLOSER, IF TIME PERMITS… (~ 10 minutes)

Ask participants write on a new sheet and hand deliver a “Kudo-gram” to another in the room. Of course, they may choose to check multiple boxes. Encourage writing personalized, “P.S.” notes.