Posts Tagged: "office"

Say Thank You with Pocket Praise Cards

Princess Diana - September 6, 2019 - Business

We often focus on the big moments in life, when it’s really the little moments that mean the most.

This is definitely true when it comes to appreciation.

Small acts of appreciation mean a lot–such as a handwritten thank you card. They let people know that who they are and what they do matter.

A thank you card takes time to compose. A person has to write several sentences to fill a traditional-sized thank you card.

What if you only had to write one phrase or sentence and it was still meaningful?

That’s the beauty of Pocket Praise cards!

Spread Positivity With Pocket Praise Cards

Pocket Praise cards are small note cards that spread encouragement, gratitude and positivity when handed out in the workplace.

Their small size of 3.5″ x 2″ makes it quick and easy to write a handwritten thank you card. It only takes a minute to recognize someone for a job well done!

April Fools’ Day Pranks

Queen Darlene - March 27, 2019 - Catch All, Food & Drinks

April Fools’ Day is so much fun and it doesn’t matter whether you are in on the prank or the recipient of the joke!

I remember my very first office prank in the 1970s. I left a message for my boss to call Mr. Lyon. Secretly, the number was to the Oklahoma City Zoo.

When my boss called the number, he heard a recording of Mr. Lyon saying “April Fools!” We both got a kick out of it but by today’s standards seems kind of lame.

Today’s pranks are so much more elaborate.

For example, completely aluminum foil an entire office–the desk, computer, keyboard, phone, calculator, pictures, chair, bookcase, pens, pencils, everything! Or cover an entire car with sticky notes!

Thumbprint Family Tree Retirement Gift

Queen Darlene - August 9, 2018 - Baby Shower, Business, Retirement, Teacher Gifts, Wedding

For many of us, a large portion of our days is spent at work. Research shows the average person will spend 90,000 hours at work over a lifetime.

So the people you work with do become family.

When Eldon, our organization’s CFO, decided to retire after 28 years, his work family wanted to find a special gift for him to remember us by.

Work Family Tree | Unique & Memorable Retirement Gift

I found a birch tree on Etsy that was perfect for for the addition of thumb or finger prints of each employee. This is an office gift that allows everyone to participate.

Genie Makes A Visit to Employees

Princess Diana - October 17, 2017 - Business

My friend, Jennifer, sincerely cares about the employees she supervises. More importantly, she doesn’t just tell them she cares, she shows them with her actions.

Every two or three years, she does this thing for every member of her staff that she calls “Genie Makes A Visit!”

It’s such a fabulous concept because she is the genie and she grants them their wishes!

The Genie Grants Three or More Wishes

She hands out pieces of paper to her employees that ask the question, “What can I do to make you love your job or love your job even more?” and with space to list up to 20 wishes.

She requires them to write down at least three wishes.

Jennifer told me she tries very hard to grant every wish. If necessary, she’ll even take a wish request to the higher ups in her company if it’s not in her power to fulfill it. Wow!

Talk about going the extra mile for her people!

If she cannot fulfill a wish request, she takes the time to explain to the employee why she can’t.

Pep Rally Office Retirement Party

Queen Darlene - November 3, 2016 - Birthday, Business, Retirement

Our office landscape is changing due to the retirement of baby boomers. We’ve already had three retire this year!

When a longtime employee is retiring, it can get teary-eyed and emotional but a fun office retirement party will bring out the celebration and laughter.

Phil retired after 30 years and for his send-off we organized a pep rally style retirement party with six employees participating as “cheerleaders.”

Each cheerleader had a card with a letter that together spelled R-E-T-I-R-E. Individually, they would raise their card with their letter and enthusiastically call out, “Give me an R” and the audience would loudly reply “R.”

The next cheerleader would hold their card up and say “Give me an E” and so on until the word R-E-T-I-R-E had been spelled.

To further excite the crowd in the room, the cheerleaders asked in unison, “What does it spell?” The audience would scream their response, “RETIRE!” This went on a couple more times. Continue Reading

Balloon Room Surprise

Princess Diana - July 26, 2016 - $20 or Less, Anniversary, Birthday, Business, Congratulations, Experiences

Balloons turn adults into little kids again, especially when they appear in an unexpected place like the office!

Turning someone’s work space, whether it’s their office or cubicle, into a playroom of colorful balloons is a great way to surprise someone for their birthday, work anniversary, or to congratulate them on an achievement.

Giving someone a Balloon Room Surprise could mean blowing up enough balloons to cover their floor and their desk, or it could mean filling the entire room with balloons all the way to the ceiling!

For a thoughtful twist to the Balloon Room Surprise, hide a gift among the balloons for them to find!

Celebrate Obscure Holidays

Princess Diana - July 1, 2016 - $20 or Less, Business

Do you ever need a reason to celebrate? I’ve got hundreds of them for you.

Almost 365 reasons really because there exists an obscure holiday on almost every day of the year. How is this a thoughtful gift idea?

Because people will love you for turning an ordinary day into an unexpected celebration!

If you work in an office, you’ll be giving your co-workers an opportunity to take a break from staring at their computers to have a little bit of excitement and variety.

Take this scenario. It’s a typical Monday at the office. You surprise everyone with s’mores because it’s National S’mores Day! Your co-workers enjoy eating their delicious snack, and it makes them feel like a kid again thanks to you!

Bosses, supervisors and managers can use obscure holidays related to food (think Sundae Day and Pie Day!) to show some love to their employees.

On Popcorn Day, you could give your friends, family members or co-workers flavored popcorn. Oreo Popcorn is my favorite and it’s easy to make!

You could also place an unpopped bag of popcorn on your co-workers’ desks with a small note about it being National Popcorn Day. They’ll appreciate the snack and the fact that you thought of them, making it a thoughtful gift!

Here is a list of some obscure holidays that would be fun to celebrate. View a more comprehensive list.

Celebrate With Sparkling Juice & Mocktails

Princess Diana - February 23, 2016 - $20 or Less, Baby Shower, Birthday, Business, Congratulations, Food & Drinks, Retirement, Teacher Gifts

There are many opportunities for celebrating at work. Just because you can’t consume alcohol or champagne at the office shouldn’t prevent you from toasting someone’s good news.

My co-worker, RaShonda, recently received a job promotion and became a grandmother for the first time. Two big reasons to celebrate!

To congratulate her on her two brand-new titles, Personnel Assistant and Gigi (her nickname for grandma), I decided to bring some treats to the office.

I brought a bottle of sparkling white grape juice cocktail, a bottle of sparkling Mango Bellini mocktail, and some white chocolate covered pretzels.

Give Your Boss a Thumbs Up On Bosses Day

Princess Diana - October 13, 2015 - $20 or Less, Business

We have a fun way to get your entire office involved in Bosses Day, which takes place each year on October 16 or the nearest working day.

Get your entire department to give your boss a thumbs up!

Queen Darlene and I did this at our office last year, and it was a big hit! This method of celebrating Bosses Day gives everyone an opportunity to show their appreciation to their boss and to any other supervisor in their office.

Print out sheets of paper with a thumbs up graphic to use as a sign. I used the Facebook Like button since it has a thumbs up and the word “Like.”

Easy & Clever Halloween Costumes

Queen Darlene - October 16, 2014 - Catch All

We have an annual Halloween costume contest at my office and some very clever and creative employees who participate. My favorite type of costumes are the ones that use a play on words.

One year, Mary wrapped herself with fake green ivy. She even crafted a headpiece out of the ivy.

When she approached another person, she would extend her hand and say in a sexy voice, “Hi… I’m Ivy… Poison Ivy.” while the person was shaking her hand.

Every time, they would jerk their hand back. Some even screamed, “Eeeekkk!” I did!

Another year, Kelly wore a blue sweatshirt and cut out white felt material into several cloud shapes and attached them onto her shirt. She also made a headband that looked like the sun and carried a spray bottle full of water.

When someone asked her what she was dressed as, she would reply, “I’m partly cloudy with a chance of rain” and sprayed them with water. No one expected that response!

One year I wore a prison striped costume with red necklaces, red earrings, Valentine heart pins and a black wig. I called myself “Prisoner of Your Love.”