How NHS Lothian Sparked a Culture of Kindness and Gratitude Across Its Workforce
Cup of Kindness Campaign
NHS Lothian launched a heartfelt campaign to promote kindness and gratitude among staff, recognising that how colleagues treat one another can significantly impact wellbeing and workplace culture. The initiative, called Cup of Kindness, encouraged staff to reflect on their values and celebrate each other in meaningful ways.
Background
Following a review of staff feedback on workplace challenges, NHS Lothian found that while staffing levels and workload were expected concerns, a recurring theme was the impact of interpersonal behaviours. Staff shared that how they were treated by colleagues sometimes didn’t align with the organisation’s values, prompting a deeper look into how kindness and gratitude could improve the working environment.
The Idea
The campaign was designed to highlight the health and wellbeing benefits of kindness and gratitude. By encouraging staff to recognise and appreciate one another, NHS Lothian aimed to foster a more inclusive, compassionate, and values-driven culture.
The Process
The Cup of Kindness campaign was rolled out across 10 key sites, engaging over 1,000 staff members. Activities included:
- Awareness sessions showcasing internal tools like Greatix, Good Deed Feed, and Celebrating Success, as well as external resources such as MS Praise and You Are Awesome postcards.
- Printed materials were distributed to help teams promote kindness locally.
- Staff were invited to share a Cup of Kindness by gifting a Work Well Insulated mug and a premade poem to a colleague they wished to thank or appreciate.
This simple gesture created a ripple effect of positivity across teams.
The Challenges
Coordinating sessions and distributing materials across multiple sites was a significant logistical challenge. NHS Lothian overcame this by mobilising the Work Well Team, who promoted the campaign locally and ensured it reached staff at all levels.
The Impact
- Staff were reminded of the power of kindness and gratitude in improving wellbeing.
- The campaign reinforced the importance of how we treat each other, including patients.
- With modest investment and thoughtful planning, the initiative had a significant impact on workplace culture.
- The campaign aligned with NHS Lothian’s core values and demonstrated how small actions can lead to meaningful change.
How does this align with the Leadership Success Profile?
“Agrees joined-up plans which consider wider organisational/departmental goals.”
“Overcomes barriers to progress, enabling teams to work with pace and flexibility.”
This initiative aligns with the “Enabling Outcomes” cluster of the Leadership Success Profile, particularly under the “Harnessing Commitment” dimension. This is by ensuring a commitment to align staff wellbeing with organisational values.
More Information
The Scottish Government has published Improving Wellbeing and Working Cultures (IWWC), which sets out a vision to support and enhance local cultures across our health, social care and social work organisations through programmes of work at a national level that focus on the three pillars of wellbeing, leadership and equality. You can find out more about IWWC by reading this blog by Dr Elizabeth Kelly.
