Credit: Madeline Watkins (People Development Advisor at Gleeds)

In what I can only imagine was an attempt to make me less of a miserable teenager, my mum once told me that one deliberate act of kindness towards a stranger can impact up to 8 people. She told me that if I smiled at someone in the street, complimented a stranger or gave up my seat on the bus, I could start a chain reaction of passing positivity onto up to 8 people.

Science reveals that when we smile, we’re not only just sharing a pleasant gesture but are triggering a series of psychological responses in ourselves and others. When we smile, the brain releases happy hormones (endorphins and serotonin), which have the power to instantly elevate mood and reduce stress levels.

The power of smiling doesn’t end there. When we smile at another person, the same neurons fire up in their brain too and prompt them to smile and experience those same happy feelings.

Smiling is simple, free, and transcends language barriers – a smile is something that we can all understand.

So… What point am I trying to make with this very simple science lesson?

I believe that every one of us holds an incredible power to improve the way that we feel about ourselves and others.

Giving instant and positive feedback can have the same impact as smiling. Giving positive feedback isn’t just about offering praise, it’s about acknowledging and encouraging behaviours that lead to success.

It’s far too easy to get caught up in our own daily stresses and forget about the power we hold to improve the way we feel about ourselves and others. It’s your responsibility to make a positive change, as it is for every one of us.

Here are five little things you can try:

• Praise a colleague when they successfully handle a tough meeting
• Give genuine and specific thanks to someone who helps you with a task – no matter how small
• Speak to someone you usually wouldn’t when making your morning brew
• Smile at a stranger on the train to work
• Congratulate the people in your team on their small successes

Spreading positivity and giving feedback is quick, simple, and free – it costs nothing but means so much.