It was yellow. Small enough to fit in the palm of my hand. And it is probably one of the things that has moved me most throughout my professional career.
It happened a few years ago, at another company, during a particularly difficult period. The business was changing so quickly that, before it could move to the next stage, we had to make a series of decisions that would affect people’s lives. Anyone who has worked in a People team knows what that means. Behind every decision are names, faces and difficult conversations.
One morning, when I arrived at work, I found a Post-it note on my desk. It was from a colleague in the employee relations team, and it read:
“I’m just a whistle away if you need a hug or a cup of tea.
P.S. You’re always offering to help others. Remember to accept help when you need it, too.”
I read it once. Then again. And once more.
It didn’t solve any of my problems. It didn’t change any of the decisions we had to make. But it made me realise something I hadn’t given enough thought to until then: how important it is to know that we’re not alone, that the people and places we belong to can also be a source of strength. That day, I was reminded that it’s the small gestures that make us who we are, and that sometimes, they’re the very things that carry us through difficult moments.
And then there was the postscript. That was what touched me most. Those of us whose work revolves around supporting others often forget about ourselves. We’re quick to offer help, but find it much harder to ask for it. That colleague reminded me that support goes both ways, and that sometimes it means allowing others to look after us.
Today, whenever we talk about this value at Kategora, I think of that Post-it note. Not as a nice phrase to put in an onboarding presentation, but as something far simpler and, at the same time, much harder: recognising when someone needs help before they ask for it. Asking how their week is going and genuinely listening to the answer. Closeness isn’t something you can establish through a company policy. It’s built by truly listening, even when what someone has to say is difficult to hear.
Since joining Kategora, there’s been one commitment shared by everyone in the People team: that growing as a company should never mean growing apart. With every new colleague who joins us, we try to make sure they feel heard and supported, and that no one goes through a difficult week without somebody noticing. The reality is that, once a company reaches a size where we no longer know everyone by name, that personal connection no longer happens automatically. We have to choose to nurture it every day. And much of our work is about doing exactly that.
That’s why, during interviews, we look for something no CV can capture: that spark in someone’s eyes when they talk about what they’re passionate about and what matters to them. We’ve learnt that this spark tells us far more than any qualification ever could. Ultimately, we’re looking for people who know when to leave a Post-it note on someone’s desk.
And you can see it in the gestures that can’t be measured: lending a hand without worrying about whose responsibility something is, a style of leadership built around supporting the team, or a simple “How are you?” that comes at just the right moment. But it’s when someone is going through a difficult time that this connection matters most. Being flexible, adapting to their needs and standing by them is simply how we believe people should treat one another.
When I ask colleagues who’ve been here for years what makes them look forward to coming back each morning, even after a difficult day, they don’t talk about the projects. They talk about the people.
Because, in the end, we don’t remember the processes. We remember the people who were there when we needed them.
So, if you notice someone looking tired today, don’t wait for them to ask for help. Make a small gesture. Invite them for a coffee, find a moment to spend together or simply write something on a Post-it note and leave it on their desk.
You may never know it, but you might just turn their day around. I know someone did that for me.
