Small acts of service that make things easier, or just plain nicer, go a long way to building and sustaining a strong company culture.
EXPERT OPINION BY SUZANNE LUCAS, HUMAN RESOURCES CONSULTANT, EVIL HR LADY @ REALEVILHRLADY
Sep 29, 2025
Illustration: Getty Images
I had to stop by the pharmacy this morning to pick up a prescription. I, like always, began with “Der Familienname ist Lucas, l-u-C-a-s.” (“The family name is Lucas.”)
I’m an American in the German speaking part of Switzerland, so I do it this way because while Lucas or Luca is a popular first name with boys, when Swiss people hear Lucas as a last name they assume it’s L-U-K-A-S. Many times after I spell it out, emphasizing the C, they’ll still type K.
No matter. Then it’s on to the first name. I know she can see a list of Lucases on her screen, so spelling isn’t necessary; what is necessary is for me to pronounce my name incorrectly.
My first name is Suzanne, like Suzanne Somers.
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But the “za” sound in that doesn’t exist in German. Add to that, German pronounces every letter, so that the silent “e” at the end doesn’t make sense. So when I say “Suzanne,” they can’t see anything on the list that matches that expectation. So I say, “Erste Name, Susannah.”
Aha! They can find me.
Works a treat.
That tiny adjustment made my interaction smoother — and that’s exactly what small acts of service do at work.
Good culture is built around small acts of service
Now, I could say my name quickly, get annoyed when they type in Lukas, and get more annoyed when they can’t find Suzanne, which has unfamiliar sounds in it. But, instead, I do what I can to make it easier for both of us.
People often talk about servant leaders, who pursue the goal of creating a thriving culture and business more focused on others than on themselves. I’m a fan. And this type of service doesn’t have to be grand gestures and sometimes it even benefits the person offering the service. (Like in my case, by mispronouncing my name, I get my pharmacy business done more quickly.)
There are many small acts of service you can do at work to make everyone’s lives easier. For instance:
Prioritize your workload so that your team gets what they need from you on time.
Let a friend or colleague know when you hear of an open position you think they might be interested in.
Be a couple of minutes early to meetings so that no one has to wait for you.
Communicate in a style that helps the other person understand clearly.
Tell your boss how your teammate went above and beyond on this project.
Thank your boss when they do something good.
Hold the door open for someone following closely. (But not when they are so far away they have to run not to make it awkward.)
Reply promptly when someone is waiting on you, even if it’s just a simple acknowledgment, such as “I’ll get back to you by Friday.”
Refill the office coffee pot or water jug instead of leaving it empty for the next person.
Offer to cover for a teammate when they have an emergency or need to leave early.
Double-check your work before handing it off so you’re not creating extra corrections for others.
Introduce colleagues to each other when you see a useful connection.
Keep shared spaces (printer, breakroom, conference room) tidy for the next person.
Give clear, actionable feedback instead of vague “this isn’t right” comments.
Share credit generously. Say “we” instead of “I” when a team effort succeeds.
Help new employees navigate unwritten rules or “how things really work” in the office.
If you’re the boss or HR, write down the current “unwritten rules” so that new hires aren’t guessing.
Translate jargon or technical language when talking to nonexperts, so everyone is included.
Pause before disagreeing in meetings to first acknowledge what you do agree with.
Let someone else finish their thought without interruption (acts of listening are acts of service, too).
Send an agenda before meetings so participants can come prepared.
Take responsibility when you make a mistake instead of deflecting it onto others.
I’m sure there are a million other ways you can offer simple acts of service to make things flow smoothly in your office.
Now, you may ask if I always mispronounce my own name. The answer is no, I don’t. If I meet you at a business or social function, I’ll pronounce my name properly. The mispronunciation is to help with looking it up on the computer. But, if you’re native language didn’t have all the sounds in my name and your mouth just doesn’t work that way, I won’t correct you when you say it wrong.
And after all, there are sounds in German my mouth can’t make so I’m mispronouncing everyone else’s names as well. And I appreciate the act of service the people in my community offer by understanding I’m doing the best I can.
The opinions expressed here by Inc.com columnists are their own, not those of Inc.com.