Hey,
Well-crafted slogans on the wall, a glossy brochure, or front & centre across a website? Where do your values & mission statement live?
And the question is, are you truly living these values or are they just words on a wall?
On a recent visit to my local car dealership, I stumbled across ‘Chocolate Friday’. A timely reminder for me & others leaders of influence. Actions are everything.
The idea is simple: each Friday, employees and customers receive the offer of a chocolate bar, a small, tangible token of appreciation. Now I’m not endorsing excessive anything but in moderation, who doesn’t enjoy a *dairy milk right? (*Insert your preferred chocolate here)
But beneath the sugar rush surface lies something much deeper. Chocolate Friday is not really about chocolate. It’s about gratitude. It’s about consistency. And, most importantly, it’s about living values through action.
When senior leaders take the initiative to champion a ritual like this, it signals more than just kindness, it demonstrates a commitment to embedding gratitude into a culture. It says, “We see you. We appreciate you. And we don’t take your efforts for granted.”
Whilst we are all busy asking more of ourselves and others, recognition can be scarce, this small gesture can make a lasting difference in how people feel.
What stands out most to me is the consistency. Gratitude is only powerful when it’s practiced, not proclaimed. Chocolate Friday happens every week, not just during good times or after big wins. That regularity reminds me that appreciation should be a habit, not a headline.
The best & most sustainable cultures are built with the small, everyday choices we make. When those choices align with our stated values, trust grows. Morale lifts. Loyalty deepens.
In that sense, Chocolate Friday is more than a sweet treat, it’s a symbol of a workplace that chooses to live its values, not just write them on the wall.
And that’s what makes it so valuable.
So next Friday grab a Kit Kat & share some gratitude, you won’t regret it.
Rich
