25 Oct 2026
As we move towards the end of the year, our thoughts often turn to Christmas, when we traditionally thank colleagues, friends and family for their kindness, help and support.
But why wait until Christmas? Why not give those you appreciate in your exam team an early thank you with a kind word or two?
It is surprising how much a thoughtful word can lift someone's spirits and spur them on to give even more!
Feeling appreciated is one of our strongest motivators and any sign that we are noticed and our contribution is valued can make a huge difference to how colleagues feel and work together.
Whether you realise it or not, you are a leader in your team. A leader does not necessarily have to be someone who heads up a department, makes crucial decisions, or sets policy.
Leaders can be anyone in a position of influence, guiding others. You may not have formal authority, but the way you conduct yourself can have a powerful influence on others. If you have a common purpose you will naturally have leadership qualities.
How do you see yourself using those?
Are you approachable?
Can your colleagues come to you with questions that will receive genuine airtime and considered responses?
Recognising the contribution everyone makes helps build a team where responsibilities are shared and people feel valued.
A timeless quotation often attributed to both Theodore Roosevelt and Stephen Covey is:
"People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care."
When we are busy getting the work done, it is often too easy to show people HOW to do something while minimising the importance of the WHO, who stands in the heart of the work.
Every single member of your team brings their own experience, confidence, concerns and strengths to the role.
Recognising these individual strengths can help build a positive team culture. It will enable you to see when someone steps up, contributes beyond expectation, and brings their ‘A-game’ to departmental tasks.
Do you notice these events?
Do you spot when a colleague does something extraordinary?
Is your relationship radar working to flag up acts that go above and beyond and merit your acknowledgment?
You do not have to make a big gesture to recognise individual actions.
Perhaps:
- A small card with a personal message.
- A handwritten note beginning, ‘I noticed when you…’
- A computer-generated graphic to thank them for their support.
- A personally signed message noting the difference they make.
There are many ways to make someone’s day. A small gesture, offered with kindness and generosity of spirit, can sometimes achieve more than the most carefully worded instructions.
You do not have to wait until the Christmas season to show your level of consideration to those you work with – although that is the perfect time to demonstrate it too.
It is often the small gesture that matters most to those of us working in unsung roles.
Just knowing that you and your work are noticed can mean a lot.
There is no better time to recognise what everyone brings to the team you work with. The best time to do that is, of course, now, while you have a moment and are thinking about it.
Write that card. Send that note. Pop it in their pigeonhole. Put it as a surprise on their desk, on top of their papers, or with the daily post.
Choose the way that feels right for you, and while you're doing so, remember to acknowledge your own contribution too.
You are part of that team, and your efforts deserve recognition just as much as anyone else's.
Looking for a little inspiration? My Little Thoughts of Appreciation printable cards offer simple ways to say thank you and recognise the people who make a difference.